Apple Valley Man Arrested for Mail Theft For Second Time This Year

APPLE VALLEY – An 18-year-old Apple Valley man was arrested for the possession of drugs, drug paraphernalia and stolen credit cards on Thursday.

At around 11:17 p.m. a customer at the Circle K Store, located on the corner of Highway 18 and Mondamon Road in the Town of Apple Valley approached a sergeant from the Victor Valley Station. The sergeant knew that something was wrong due to the panicked look on the customer’s face as he described a white man who he said appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance and entered the store with a handgun in a holster. The customer said that the man left the store, got into the driver’s seat of a gray Jeep with black rims and went westbound on Taloga Road.

The Sergeant began looking for the vehicle, which he located near Lasota and Owatonna Roads. He activated his lights and the driver, later identified as Matthew Ethan DiFalco pulled over. He was found to have a pellet gun in his holster, but during a search of the vehicle methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and stolen credit cards were located. Through investigation, including the contact with the owner of the credit cards, the sergeant learned that the credit cards were part of mail that was stolen from their mail in the Town of Apple Valley between November 14th and 16th.

DiFalco, who was previously arrested for mail theft in March 2017, was convicted of receiving stolen property. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 20 days in county jail, serving only 10 days. He also was sentenced to 36 months of probation.

DiFalco was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center for Receiving Known Stolen Property, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He is currently being held in lieu of $35,000.00 bail. A passenger in the vehicle, Debra Ann Joseph, 62, was arrested for misdemeanor warrants and was released on Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact at Sergeant Sean Struebing or Deputy Jeremy Weaver at Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station, (760) 552-6800. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can report information to WeTip by calling 1-800-78-CRIME, or by accessing the website at www.wetip.com.

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