Calif. Woman Arrested for Holding Cell Phone Ransom

Nov. 8, 2012
The owner was told her lost phone would be returned only after she paid $100 cash.

Nov. 08--ADELANTO -- An Adelanto woman was arrested for extortion after asking for $100 in exchange for returning a lost cellphone.

A female victim, whose name was not released, lost her cellphone at Carl's Jr. in Adelanto on Monday. She attempted to call her number to see if someone had found her phone, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's news release.

Delfina Gutierrez, 46, answered the phone and told the victim she would only return the phone for $100 in cash, according to the release.

The victim made arrangements to meet Gutierrez at the Chevron Station on Mall Boulevard in Victorville and called authorities.

Deputies from the Victor Valley sheriff's station set up surveillance of the gas station and arrested Gutierrez for extortion at 10:20 p.m. when she arrived to meet the victim, according to the release.

Gutierrez had Vicodin and Morphine, which were not prescribed to her, in her possession at the time of her arrest, adding an additional charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Gutierrez was held overnight at West Valley Detention Center, with bail initially set at $35,000, according to the release.

At approximately 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Gutierrez was released on her own reconnaissance and will be appearing in court at a later date, according to sheriff's spokesperson Jodi Miller.

Copyright 2012 - Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.

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