Gia Hendricks charged with 11 counts of ID theft, theft and burglary
Gia Hendricks. Photo courtesy of MBPD
Gia Christina Hendricks, the alleged con artist who stole and charged about $9,000 onto a Manhattan Beach man’s credit card last month, was charged with 11 counts of identity theft, theft and second degree commercial burglary, according to a Los Angeles County District Attorney’s felony complaint. Her recommended bail is $250,000.
The charges include one count of identity theft, five counts of theft for “intent to defraud, sell, transfer and convey an access card without the cardholder’s and issuer’s consent” and five counts of second degree commercial burglary for entering four commercial buildings intending to commit larceny and a felony.
The commercial buildings include Hermosa Cyclery in Hermosa Beach, and Elleni Couture, 12 and Highland and The Strand House restaurant in Manhattan Beach.
The alleged crimes were all committed during the first few days of October.
Since her arrest on Tuesday, police have received calls from about 15 of Hendricks’ alleged victims, said Mike Rosenberger, Manhattan Beach police detective. None are Manhattan Beach residents, he said.
Hendricks “befriends unsuspecting people, gains their trust and then uses their identity to obtain cash and property,” police said in a statement.
She’s told people she’s from Miami, is a wealthy socialite, or runs a modeling agency, Rosenberger said. She’s also claimed to be associated with the Hendrick Motorsports NASCAR Racing Team.
Hendricks allegedly charged close to $800 on an American Express card at Hermosa Cyclery.
On Oct. 1 and Oct. 4, a $700 bicycle and additional accessories were purchased, said Larry Burke, part-owner of the store, reading from receipts.
The employee who sold the bike remembers taking the bike out of the display window, but could not recall details about the individual to whom the bike was sold, Burke said, adding that the store often serves about 100 customers per day. “We’re being a lot more careful as far as checking IDs really closely to make sure they match the name,” he said.
Hendricks was found staying with a woman in Hollywood who she had met on Craig’s List. She was subsequently arrested by Manhattan Beach police detectives.
Hendricks, who is 5-feet-5 and has a tattoo of the constellation, Orion, on her lower back, also uses the aliases Gia Hendrick, Maria Hendricks, Maria Johnson, Christina Johnson and Gia Johnson. She was born May 2, 1971, but also uses the fake birthday, May 2, 1972.