Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

Highly doubtful anything at all would happen to the individual. Lots of people borrow $50K and go bust. The credit card issuer would have a hard time proving your "intention," or in persuading the police to become involved, at least for this amount of money. There would almost certainly not be a criminal case. There might be a civil judgment or two, but this would never result in an arrest warrant "waiting for you at the airport." Very probably the debtor could file for bankruptcy upon return to the U.S. and discharge most or all debt. But if there is clear proof of fraud all bets are off.