Man Claiming To Be Former White Zombie Drummer Arrested on Fraud Charges
An unusual case in Saulsalito, Calif., resulted in police arresting a man claiming he is former White Zombie drummer Phillip Buerstatte for allegedly defrauding a rehab center out of $75,000. He is also accused of defrauding a rehabilitation center in Novato. However, authorities identified the man as 46-year-old Loren Breckenridge.
The Marin Independent Journal reports Breckenridge arranged to stay at the Alta Mira drug and alcohol rehab center for a month, but left after two weeks. Breckenridge allegedly paid the Alta Mira with fraudulent check and bank account information. A bulletin issued by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Centers says he has defrauded at least four rehab centers in the United States.
Breckenridge also reportedly has warrants for his arrest out of Minnesota and Florida for theft and possession of stolen property. Police say he has numerous arrests in other states for forgery, passing fictitious checks, theft and vehicle theft.
For these latest alleged crimes, he was booked on felony charges of using an account card without approval, making or passing fictitious checks, obtaining credit with another person’s identification, burglary and a misdemeanor charge of giving a false identification to police. Breckenridge was being held in Marin County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Police are still trying to figure out if Breckenridge uses Phllip Buerstatte as a stage name, or if he was impersonating the musician. Buerstatte was White Zombie’s drummer from 1992 to 1994, but did not appear on any studio albums. He was also in the Wisconsin metal band Last Crack from 1986 to 1997.