Corona, CA: Riverside man suspected in councilman impersonation

Editors Note: Wow, really...you compare!

A 37-year-old Riverside man is behind bars today in connection with an attempt to make a $1,500 purchase at a Corona printing business by posing as a city councilman on city business, according to Corona police and jail records.

Lorenzo Joseph Ciaramella was arrested Sunday by Riverside police and booked for investigation of possessing drugs and burglary tools, receiving stolen property and obstructing or resisting a peace officer, jail records show. He is being held without bail because he also is considered a parole violator.

Corona police later interviewed him and will be seeking charges of forgery, passing phony checks, car theft and burglary, Sgt. Kim Velasco said in a written statement. Ciaramella has previous arrests for fraud, identity theft and narcotics violations, Velasco said.

The investigation began on Feb. 22 when a man identifying himself as Corona Councilman Steve Nolan placed a $1,500 the order at a printing company along the 1000 block of West Sixth Street in Corona.

"The suspect ... stated it was for an inner city kid's project," according to the police statement. "The suspect said he would have his driver pick up these items and would pay with a check."