Woman arrested for alleged possession, sale of bogus COVID vaccine cards

A Whittier-area woman was arrested for allegedly possessing and selling counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards, authorities said Tuesday.

Charlene Bohorquez, 31, was taken into custody Friday after detectives served a search warrant at her home, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Detectives had received information from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations personnel regarding “the importation of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards shipped from China into the United States,” according to the sheriff’s department.

Sheriff’s officials said the bogus cards were being sent to Bohorquez at an address near Whittier, leading to Friday’s search of the home, which turned up “dozens” of bogus vaccine cards and other evidence.

“Upon questioning, suspect Bohorquez admitted to detectives that she ordered the cards online from a vendor in China and that she had intended to sell them to people who were reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” according to a sheriff’s department statement. “The suspect also admitted to previously selling additional counterfeit COVID-19 cards in the past.”

Bohorquez was booked on suspicion of possession and sales of a counterfeit or deceptive identification document, sheriff’s officials said. She was issued a citation to appear at Downey Superior Court, and was released.

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