Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two women suspected of generating a list of 1,300 supposedly illegal immigrants are scheduled to appear in court on Monday following a nearly year-long investigation.
Leah Carson will appear in Midvale Justice Court at 10 a.m. and Teresa Bassett will appear in 3rd District Court in Salt Lake City at 1:30 p.m. The women will be formally charged during their court appearances, said Scott Troxel, spokesman for the Utah Attorney General's Office.
He would not comment on what those charges are or if any plea arrangements expected.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff initiated an investigation in July 2010 after an anonymous letter containing the names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and other personal information of 1,300 purported illegal immigrants was distributed to law enforcement agencies and the media. The list was distributed under the name Concerned Citizens of the United States, with demands that those listed be deported. The list also contained due dates of several pregnant women and the names of many children.
The infamous list caused a huge stir in the community when it came to light in July.
A state probe determined two Department of Workforce Services employees breached a computer database to gather the personal information. Those two workers were later identified as Bassett, a computer specialist who had worked in state government for 17 years, and Carson, a temporary worker in the imaging department, which scans documents such as utility bills and other paperwork used to verify clients' addresses and income levels. Both lost their jobs as a result of the accusations.
Bassett, who prosecutors say is now known as London Grace Wellington, has previously maintained her innocence. Carson has not spoken publicly.
Last year, Shurtleff said that in addition to determining whether state privacy laws were broken, he would involve the U.S. Attorney's Office to look at whether federal statutes were violated as well. He said the crimes could rise to the level of felonies.
Because Carson is appearing in a justice court, she is likely facing a misdemeanor charge or an infraction. Bassett is appearing in state court, so no federal crimes are likely being alleged.
Email:bwood@ksl.com
