Crime & Safety

MBPD Wants Information on Former RB Resident

The man is believed to have defrauded victims he met via online dating websites.

James, Jimmy and Jimmi may have been quite busy, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department which are conducting a joint investigation into the actions of "James Bruce Rice."

Rice, who is currently in custody serving time for a grand theft that took place in MB and will be released in April, is believed to have committed crimes of fraud on victims living in Redondo Beach, Beverly Hills, Hacienda Heights, Alabama and Alaska, said MBPD Officer Stephanie Martin. Rice served 13 years in Arizona for theft-related crimes, she said.

Investigators are asking for the public’s help with their fraud investigation.  

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Rice, 52, is known to have used the names James Turner, Jimmy Turner and Jimmi Turner, and, in some of the cases, developed online relationships via dating websites with victims, said Martin. In-person meetings would take place next.

Martin said once a level of trust was in place, Rice allegedly defrauded victims by inviting them to invest in bogus ventures, such as diamond deals and catering.  

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Rice has also allegedly stole a victim’s jewelry and a car he resold in Arizona, according to Martin. In the MB case, he is believed to have stolen $5,000 in jewelry, she said. 

MBPD and LASD are looking for more possible victims as well as information on Rice. He is described as white, born on Jan. 22, 1961, 6 feet 1 inch tall and 270 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. His last known address was in Redondo Beach. 

Investigators believe he may have used additional aliases.

Individuals can contact MBPD Detective Mike Allard at 310-802-5125 or LASD Detective Billy Lovell at 562-347-2660.


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