Article on Identity Theft From the CanyonCourier--Colorado

Eight indicted in identity-theft ring
By Jonathan Ellis08/19/2005

GOLDEN — Eight people have been indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury in a massive identity-theft ring that defrauded more than 30 local and national artists.The victims include the artists and dozens of local stores and banks where members of the ring cashed fraudulent checks.

"To our knowledge it's one of the largest identity-theft cases in Jefferson County history," said Carl Blesch, an investigator with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office. "This is the first in a series of identity-theft investigations that target check printers and people who are engaged in identity theft for the purposes of racketeering and illegal drug use."

The indictments, unsealed Monday, charge the eight with racketeering under the Colorado Organized Crime Act. The indictments allege the group committed forgery, criminal impersonation, theft and other crimes as part of a criminal enterprise, and each person could receive up to 24 years in prison. The investigation was conducted by the DA's office and Lakewood police.Those indicted were Nathanial Harris, 28; Kasiani Konstantinidis, 24; Aimee Carpenter, 31; Janet Garcia, 44; Theresa Ellenberg, 42; Renee Gutierrez, 22; Al Houston, 41; and Geneva Sanders, 18. More people could face criminal charges, Blesch said.

Authorities say the thefts started in late 2004 when Carpenter, an employee of a company that sponsored art exhibits, began stealing checks from artists who were renting booths for art fairs. The company's name was not released because authorities want to protect the owner.

Carpenter, Harris and Konstantinidis then used information on the checks to create bogus personal and business checks. The fraudulent checks were used for cash and to buy items at dozens of stores and banks across the metro area and added up to nearly $50,000.

Carpenter, Harris and Konstantinidis used a computer to create the bogus checks. The other five members of the ring took the checks to local businesses. Authorities say they divided merchandise and used money to buy illegal drugs.

Darlene Nixon, a Lakewood painter who was one of the victims, said the fraudulent checks created with her information were sophisticated and included water marks and other security features.Nixon accessed her account on the Internet and noticed two checks totaling about $1,200 written from her account. She frantically called her credit union and credit card companies to cancel her accounts."It's like any kind of theft. You feel like you've been violated, especially when it's your bank account," she said. "You put your money in the bank to keep it safe."

Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey received permission to form a second grand jury this spring to combat identity-theft cases and other complex crimes.This is the first major identity-theft case handled by the new grand jury, which will meet once a week for a year. More cases are expected.

Nixon said she never met Carpenter, although she did exchange e-mails with her. Nixon also said that anybody who writes a check could become a victim of identify theft. With camera phones becoming more common, all a cashier has to do is take a picture of a check and then reproduce that information on a computer.

"I guess you just have to take your chances," Nixon said. "I'm not going to stop writing checks for my purchases."Arrest warrants have been issued for Carpenter, Harris and Konstantinidis, Blesch said. The others have been arrested. Meanwhile, the DA's victim assistance unit has been contacting victims to inform them.