GOLDEN, Colo.—Authorities say identity thieves crashed a church wedding in suburban Denver, stole the minister’s wallet and took other wallets and purses from changing rooms.
Prosecutors said Tuesday the thieves also hit up cars, mailboxes and a hotel to steal checks, ID cards and credit cards during a 30-day spree in November and December. They also allegedly used computers to create fake ID’s and checks.
Authorities said the ring used the ID’s, credit cards and checks to steal more than $11,000 in cash and merchandise. Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey said the suspects used the money to feed their methamphetamine habits.
The suspects are also accused of stealing two cars and a laptop computer, said DA’s spokeswoman Pam Russell.
Russell said the victims included 17 individuals, Target, King Soopers, Wal-Mart, Bellco Credit Union and several banks.
She didn’t know whether the other victims at the wedding at Lakewood Christian Church were guests or members of the wedding party. She said the church’s bank account numbers were also stolen.
Storey said six people were indicted on charges including racketeering, identity theft, computer crime, impersonation and possession of methamphetamine. All have been arrested.
Searches of the suspects’ homes and hotel rooms turned up checks, bank statements, Social Security cards and other documents of up to 100 people that hadn’t yet been used to make fraudulent purchases, said Russell.
Prosecutors identified the suspects as Amy Bauer, 33, and Eric Flynn, 36, of Westminster; Brittany Gray, 21, and Zachary Engen, 20, of Arvada; Robert Gerstner, 40, of Wheat Ridge; and Charles Braecklein, 31, of Denver.
Gerstner is the only one not facing a racketeering charge.
None have entered pleas. Russell said they will be assigned public defenders at an April 6 hearing.
