A Jefferson County grand jury has returned an 87-count indictment against five people accused of running an identity-theft ring that allegedly stole more than $100,000 from multiple victims.
Two of the five suspects have been arrested and the other three are at large, according to a Jefferson County district attorney’s office statement.
The alleged ringleader, Teresa Porter, 44, of Lakewood, has been charged with racketeering, violation of Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act, identity theft, aggravated motor vehicle theft and forgery, the DA’s office said.
The other four suspects in the case have been identified as Michael West, 46, of Lakewood; Robin Newberry, 45, of Lakewood; Wendy Montano, 45, of Aurora; and Pamela Rowe, 48, of Westminster. They face various multiple charges, prosecutors said.
Porter and Newberry have been arrested, and warrants have been issued for the others.
Porter is being held on $100,000 bail, and Newberry on $10,000 bail.
The indictment, which was returned Nov. 19, accuses the group of stealing more than $100,000 from individuals and businesses between October 2009 and August 2010.
The suspects are accused of using stolen information — including Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers — to open bogus individual credit accounts and business credit accounts. They used the accounts to rent cars, access cash and purchase merchandise. They even rented an apartment as part of their criminal activity, the DA’s office said.
Nineteen people and 36 businesses have been identified as victims.
Businesses victimized include banks, credit unions, King Soopers, Safeway, convenience stores, jewelry stores, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
