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Six suspects allegedly orchestrating an identity theft ring across the metro area were arrested after an operation by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and the United State Postal Inspection Service.
Jessica Prather, 25, Christopher "Sam Bam" France, 36, Christopher Applegate, 31, Brandy Creal, 25, Allyson Turner, 25 and Brian Nicholson, 22 were arrested on various charges including identity theft, multiple degree aggravated motor vehicle theft, burglary, multiple counts on forgery and criminal impersonation.
The ID theft ring which operated from about March 1 to October 26, 2006 allegedly stole mail from homes throughout the metro area, and specifically targeted houses around Boulder County, with its members breaking into several vehicles in open garages in order to steal driver's licenses. Authorities say the stolen documents from an indictment naming 52 victims, 17 of whom were individuals and 35 of which were businesses, were taken to a Westminster home where the suspects allegedly converted the victims' IDs into fraudulent driver's licenses and checks used to pass bad checks at 35 different businesses around the Denver area.
According to Colorado Attorney General John Suthers, the ring was allegedly responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in losses. "As to the egregiousness of the violations, this case is certainly exceptional," said Suthers, in a prepared statement. "But the tactics of the alleged offenders are as common as the motive behind the crimes: methamphetamine abuse is responsible for a great deal of criminal conduct in Colorado."
Evidence against the 6 ID theft suspects were found at the Westminster home during execution of a search warrant by the North Metro Drug Task Force after receiving a tip in late 2006 that the home contained a meth lab. Authorities say the task force found numerous garbage bags full of stolen mail and forged documents, as well as computer equipment used to forge driver's licenses and checks.
The arrests were the result of a 14 month investigation, which had been codenamed,
"Operation White Rhino" coordinated by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and the United State Postal Inspection Service. Prather faces a maximum prison sentence of 165 years if convicted in all her counts while the other 5 suspects faces maximum prison sentences of up to 103 years and no less than 43 years maximum, separately. The cases will be filed in Boulder District Court and prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office and the Boulder District Attorney's Office.
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