WHILE INVESTIGATING, SANTA ROSA POLICE FIND MORE THAN JUST STOLEN CHECKS AT JENNIFER CHENIER’S HOME.
Days ago, the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) began investigating a large-scale theft of donations intended for the nonprofit Dogwood Animal Rescue organization. Executives with the nonprofit had recently been contacted by two separate donors inquiring about donation receipts for checks they mailed to the organization’s mailbox at the UPS Store located on Fulton Road, Santa Rosa.
On February 12, 2025, detectives with the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations (PCI) began investigating this case. They confirmed that the suspect, Jennifer Chenier, a 36-year-old Santa Rosa resident, was employed at the UPS Store and had access to the mailbox rented by Dogwood Animal Rescue. As their investigation continued, they developed probable cause to arrest Chenier for various crimes associated with the theft of donation checks. Shortly before 3:00 pm on February 12th, Chenier was arrested by plainclothes SRPD PCI detectives at her place of work.
Detectives quickly authored search warrants for Chenier and her property, residence, and vehicle. Shortly before 7:00 pm, the SRPD PCI Team served the search warrants.
In Chenier’s purse, detectives located just under $7,000 in cash and six checks payable to Dogwood Animal Rescue. In Chenier’s residence, detectives located an additional 24 checks payable to the nonprofit organization. The donations from the 30 recovered checks totaled over $18,000. Evidence of mail from other rented mailboxes at the UPS Store where Chenier was employed was also located. Chenier was booked into Sonoma County Jail for the following charges:
- 487(a) PC – Grand theft, felony
- 470(a) PC – Felony forgery
- 530.5(a) PC – Felony identity theft
- 459 PC – Felony commercial burglary
- 530.5(c)(3) PC – Felony possession of personal identification information for 10 or more individuals with the intent to defraud
POLICE RETURNED THE NEXT DAY
Acting on a tip, detectives returned to the residence and conducted a follow-up search. They located a locked red suitcase and discovered a short-barreled Colt M4 fully automatic military assault rifle and silencer. The firearm had no serial number, and the rifle was imprinted on the side, “Military and Law Enforcement Use Only.” In addition to this assault rifle being illegal to possess, detectives learned Chenier is a narcotics addict and therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms.
PCI detectives responded to the Sonoma County Jail and arrested Chenier for the following felony charges:
- 30605 PC – Possession of an assault rifle
- 32625(a) PC – Possession of a machine gun
- 33215 PC – Possession of a short-barreled rifle
- 33410 PC – Possession of a silencer
- 29800(a)(1) PC – Narcotics addict in possession of a firearm
