Inmate in jail for fraud passes counterfeit check for bail, Thousand Oaks police say

A Malibu man, who was in Ventura County jail for identity theft and check fraud in June, is suspected of using a counterfeit cashier's check to post bail.

Cedric Frierson, 42, was back in jail as of Wednesday after Thousand Oaks police re-arrested him. He was being held on bail of $1.45 million.

Police said they were called to a Thousand Oaks car dealership on April 24 in reference to forgery and the unlawful taking of a vehicle. Police were told at the dealership that someone gave three counterfeit checks totaling $12,000 as a down payment for a vehicle.

The suspect then took the sport utility vehicle, valued at more than $41,000, police said. 

Investigators said they learned during a four-month investigation that the suspect was from Malibu. Investigators said the suspect used other names while committing alleged crimes, including Cedric Yearwood, Thomas Yearwood, Thomas Isaacs and Robert Graham.

Investigators said they discovered other businesses where the suspect had passed counterfeit cashier's checks in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including car dealerships.

Frierson also is suspected of starting a fraudulent real estate company, TVD Properties. 

Frierson was first arrested June 19 and booked into Ventura County jail, police said. He was released from jail June 23 after posting bail.

Police said they later learned a counterfeit cashier's check was used to post the bail and Frierson was rearrested July 19 in Calabasas by representatives of the bail bond company.

Frierson is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Courtroom 12.