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Jed Boal ReportingEach year, identity theft balloons as a criminal problem, while law enforcement tries to track down the thieves. The US Attorney's Office today reports progress in fighting identity theft in Utah with federal, state and local teamwork.
All across the country identity thieves are hard at work trying to steal our good names and any wealth attached to them.
Paul Warner, U.S. Attorney: "This issue of identity theft is a tidal wave that has swept the nation, and plaguing law enforcement across the country."
Identity theft overwhelms law enforcement, banking institutions and the consumers who have to deal with the aftermath. The Utah Identity Theft Task Force today revealed the indictment of an identity theft ring that rang up more than a third of a million dollars for the enterprise.
The prosecutor says Todd Eversen and and J.C. Flores led an identity theft ring with four accomplices, dating back to 2004. They made counterfeit checks and fake ID's and victimized hundreds of people with more than 25-thousand checks. Thirty-seven acts are cited in the federal indictment.
Paul Warner, U.S. Attorney: "We're really striking at the heart of a major operation here in Utah."
Since November 2004, the task force has investigated more than 190 cases; charges have been filed in 150 cases. 112 thieves have been convicted and sentenced, and the rest await sentencing. The task force has also contacted 1,366 victims of identity theft.
It's not only individuals swiping your identity, organized crime is in on the act.
Tim Fuhrman, F.B.I.: "Domestic terrorist groups, white supremacist prison gangs. We've seen that all of them engage in this kind of activity to finance what they're doing."
For tips to protect yourself look for the link to a DVD at the top right of this story.
