New Car Buyer Fraud Plea

A man who went on a fraudulent shopping spree while posing as a wealthy marine dying of cancer is going to prison.Ryan Barba entered a guilty plea this week to grand theft auto, forgery and second degree burglary.Barba was caught in a sting operation at Paradise Chevrolet in Ventura.The 31 year-old was using phony checks to buy a Camaro and a Silverado pickup.He reportedly tapped into an investment account to buy new cars in three counties.Prosecutors say Barba was also in escrow on two homes in Santa Barbara.Santa Barbara Prosecutors say they have not received enough information to file charges in a separate case.Barba has served prison time in Chino and is expected to be sentenced to another five years on July 20th.