California bar owner faces felony charges after selling fake COVID-19 vaccine cards
California officials have charged a San Joaquin County bar owner with felony identify theft and forging government documents and misdemeanor falsification of medical records after he was caught selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards for $20.
Members of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said on Wednesday that several agents purchased the fake cards routinely in April at the Old Corner Saloon located 35 miles southeast of Sacramento.
When the owner was arrested he was also found to have an unregistered gun on him which is a felony in California.
“It is disheartening to have members in our community show flagrant disregard for public health in the midst of a pandemic,” said San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar. “Distributing, falsifying or purchasing fake COVID-19 vaccine cards is against the law and endangers yourself and those around you. The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office is grateful for the partnership with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for their work in this case.”
The statement from ABC also mentioned that the department will “file disciplinary action against the business” which includes a possible revocation of their ABC license.
