Additional Victims Sought in Fraud Arrest 

March 1, 2025 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that in June 2024, an elderly Palm Desert resident met Vincent Tarter, a 66-year-old Los Angeles resident. Under a false identity, Tarter represented himself as a former federal agent and currently as a private investigator. During Tarter’s ongoing relationship with the victim, he claimed to be capable of fixing the victim’s legal troubles. The victim hired Tarter and paid him a significant amount, but no legal services were received.

In December 2024, Adult Protective Services contacted the Sheriff’s Palm Desert Station to report the incident. During the investigation, the Palm Desert Investigations Bureau found that Tarter was working in concert with a female identified as Tamela King, a 55-year-old resident of Glendale. Additional charges will be sought and filed with the District Attorney’s Office regarding King’s involvement.

On February 26, 2025, the Palm Desert Investigations Bureau located and arrested Tarter in the 100 block of North Broadway, Los Angeles. Tarter was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio for financial elder abuse and is being held without bail.

Tarter is known to use several aliases, including Tony, Anthony Costa, Tony Costa, and Vincent Ziti. This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Office believes there may be additional victims of a similar crime involving Vincent Tarter or Tamela King. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call Investigator Grasso at 760-836-1600.

For more information on how to prevent being a victim of fraud, please contact the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at 760-836-1600.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant  Daniel Milbrandt

File # T243510033 

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office