A fugitive suspected of being involved in a widespread identity-theft scam has been arrested in Denver by the U.S. Marshals Service, federal officials announced today.
Investigators set a trap for the man, Matthew Looper, 24, when they arranged a meeting with him to purchase items he had advertised on the Internet, said David Floyd, supervisory deputy U.S. Marshal in Denver.
He was arrested when he showed up for the meeting.
Floyd said that Looper, also known as Matt Wagner, was a fugitive on a supervised-release violation.
He currently is being investigated for identity theft and fraud by the Littleton Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. postal inspectors, said Floyd.
At the time of his arrest, Looper was in possession of multiple fake identity cards, credit cards, drugs, pirated software and a weapon called an expandable baton.
He was convicted in federal court of possession of stolen mail in 2005 and was sentenced to 200 days in jail, three years of supervised release and a $250 fine.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
