5 busted in ID theft ring
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 4, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.
Updated August 4, 2008 at 2:07 p.m.
Sarah Maes, 24
Morgan Nerim, 28
Steven Aragon, 41
Eric Rossi, 33
Georgia Parks, 46
Carla Ridgely, 34
A drug task force and police have busted a west metro Denver crime ring that stole identities, fashioned false IDs, purchased goods, cashed fraudulent checks and bought methamphetamines.
Five of six suspects in the ID-theft ring have been arrested following indictments handed down by a Jefferson County grand jury, District Attorney Scott Storey said today.
The six stole IDs, credit card numbers and other information from people and businesses to create fraudulent IDs and checks, Storey said.
Those checks were cashed or used to buy stuff at places like Best Buy, Pizza Hut and American Furniture Warehouse.
Storey said the cash and merchandise was turned over to ringleader Steven Aragon, who used them, among other things, to buy methamphetamines.
The investigation "shows us again how closely ID theft and methamphetamine are connected," Storey said.
"It is vital that we find the resources to continue these investigations."
The indictment was returned a week ago, but investigators held off on making it public to increase their chances of arresting the six.
Arrested were Aragon, 41, Morgan Nerim, 28, Eric Rossi, 33, Georgia Parks, 46, and Carla Ridgely, 34.
Sarah Maes, 24, remains at-large.
They're all charged with at least one count of identity theft in crimes alleged to have been committed in 2006.
Aragon also is charged with racketeering under Colorado's Organized Crime Control Act.
The West Metro Drug Task Force was investigating a suspected drug operation in a house on West 52nd Avenue in Arvada when its investigators uncovered the ID theft ring, Storey said.
The ring sometimes would open in-store credit accounts in Aragon's name, using forged documents that its members had created.
The members of the ring then would charge purchases to the account, Story said. Aragon, in turn, would claim that his personal information had been stolen and that he was the victim.
He tried to file police reports that would absolve him of debts ran up by strangers, but was never successful, Storey said.
Among the other charges was that the ring used a computer to create the forged IDs, including legitimate state identification cards, such as driver's licenses.
Among the documents seized were social security cards, debit and credit cards and blank checks.
The West Metro Drug Task Force is comprised of investigators from throughout Jefferson County.
Its charge is to reduce the availability of drugs in the county.
Among the other victims of the ID theft are King Soopers, Home Depot, Medved Chevrolet, Bellco Credit Union, TCF Bank, Horizon's North Credit Union and Big Lots.
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August 4, 2008
2:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Gonzopozo writes:
I second that. Jail time plus make them pay eveybody back.
August 4, 2008
2:36 p.m.
Suggest removal
LoneTreeLady75 writes:
Fine and upstanding members of the community, no?
August 4, 2008
2:49 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ringmaster writes:
What a sorry bunch of losers.
What about the line on drugs being a "victimless crime"? Tell it to the people who had their id's (lives) stolen by these punks.
August 4, 2008
3:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
Buckwheat writes:
They'll all claim it was the drugs that made them do it, plea a deal for rehab, and be out by next spring.
August 4, 2008
3:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Dick_Tater writes:
The investigation "shows us again how closely ID theft and methamphetamine are connected," Storey said.
How about how drug addiction and crime are connected. What about those who rob homes for money to buy drugs. People who rip copper out of buildings for money to buy drugs. Or women who hook for money to buy drugs. It comes down to the addiction and people doing what ever they can think of to get their fix.
August 4, 2008
4:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
RockLobster writes:
What the heck is with the smile on Mr. Nerim? Is he so wasted he thinks he's posing for his high school yearbook? Low-life's! Throw the book at them!