Thomas: ID Theft Ring, Mexican Mafia Tied
17 Arrested In Connection With Ring, More Arrests Expected, County Attorney Says
POSTED: 12:12 pm MST June 19,
2009
UPDATED: 6:33 am MST June 20,
2009
PHOENIX -- At least 17 suspects in an identity theft ring with ties to the Mexican mafia were arrested Thursday and more arrests are pending, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced Friday.
Law enforcement agents were first tipped off to the identity theft ring by a cab driver who claimed someone had tried to extort him, Thomas said in the news conference.
Investigators said members of the ring would steal mail, purses, wallets and checkbooks, and they would use the stolen information to gain access to and make withdrawals from the victims' accounts.
The money was used to make large drug purchases, and some of it went to the inmate accounts of high-level members of the Mexican mafia, according to a news release from the county attorney's office.
Authorities said they've identified at least 150 victims.
An indictment alleging 42 counts of charges including conspiracy, illegal control of an enterprise, illegal participation in an enterprise, money laundering, forgery, taking the identity of another, aggravated taking the identity of another, theft, fraudulent schemes and artifices, trafficking in the identity of another, misconduct involving weapons and attempted trafficking in stolen property was handed up Monday.
The investigation was jointly conducted by the Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe and Glendale police departments; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
- ELSEWHERE ON KPHO.COM: The Rev. Al Sharpton on Friday called for opponents of an Arizona sheriff who has aggressively cracked down on illegal immigration to videotape alleged racial profiling by the sheriff's office.
Read More: Sharpton Seeks Help In Arpaio Probe - MORE SLIDESHOWS: From the bizarre to the tragic to breaking news, visit the KPHO.com slideshow section and click away!
Copyright 2009 by KPHO.com. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
