Overview
- Ceres police arrested two suspects after an elderly woman told Wells Fargo staff on 4th Street she was being kidnapped and forced to withdraw a large amount of cash.
- Officers detained the female suspect at the bank and found Nicholas Payton, 33, a block away with a loaded unserialized rifle in his backpack.
- Investigators say Payton is a prohibited person on felony probation with outstanding warrants and in possession of a controlled substance, leading to multiple additional gun and drug charges.
- Both suspects were booked on kidnapping, elder abuse, and conspiracy counts, and the victim was safely reunited with her family.
- Police later determined through fingerprint analysis that the woman had used a false identity and is actually Stephanie Maghoney, who was re-arrested on a Tracy burglary warrant and now faces a felony false impersonation charge; anyone with tips is asked to call Ceres police at (209) 538-5712.