March 20, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on March 16, 2026, at 11:57a.m., deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station Business District Team began an investigation into the report of gift card fraud occurring at a business in the Coachella Valley. The suspect was identified as Ruhai Li, a 36-year-old resident of Alhambra.

During the investigation deputies located Li in the 67000 block of E Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City and took him into custody without incident. Deputies obtained a search warrant for Li’s vehicle and, during the search, recovered over 9,000 fraudulent gift cards valued at over $ 2.1 million.

Li was transported and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for felony forgery of access cards.

This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Botello of the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station by calling (760) 836-1600.

Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Steven Nelson

File # T260750063

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office