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Todd Anderson, 59, of Acampo, California, was arrested Tuesday at his bar, the Old Corner Saloon, John Carr, a spokesperson for the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, told CNN.
It's not clear how many cards were sold in total. Agents found two completed cards and 30 blank ones with a laminating device, Carr said. ABC said agents also found an unregistered firearm with Anderson during the arrest at his bar in Clements, nearly 35 miles southeast of Sacramento.
"This is the first case the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has investigated that involves allegations of the sale of Fraudulent COVID-19 Vaccination Cards," Carr told CNN via email.
Anderson faces three felony charges, including carrying an unregistered firearm, forgery of a government seal and identity theft of Pfizer, CVS and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office. He is also charged with creating a false medical record, a misdemeanor.
The arraignment for Anderson is expected to be May 18 in Lodi, California, according to the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office. A spokesperson for the DA's office didn't know whether he had retained legal representation.
San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar expressed concern about the sale of fake vaccination cards.
"It is disheartening to have members in our community show flagrant disregard for public health in the midst of a pandemic," Salazar said in a statement. "Distributing, falsifying or purchasing fake COVID-19 vaccine cards is against the law and endangers yourself and those around you."