One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
A Contract Worker Stole 500 Vaccination Cards. He's Now Facing A Felony Charge
People arrive in their vehicles to receive COVID-19 vaccines at the Pomona Fairplex on Jan. 22, 2021.
(
FREDERIC J. BROWN
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
A contract worker is accused of stealing hundreds of blank vaccine cards from a COVID-19 vaccination center at the Pomona Fairplex.
Prosecutors charged Muhammad Rauf Ahmed from Las Vegas with one felony count of grand theft.
Investigators say Ahmed stole more than 500 cards, which can go for at least $15 each if they're sold illegally.
In a statement, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón called selling fake vaccine cards immoral.
“Selling fraudulent and stolen vaccine cards is illegal, immoral and puts the public at risk of exposure to a deadly virus,” Gascón said.
According to a news release from the DA's office, Ahmed is scheduled to be arraigned August 25 at Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pomona Branch.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
