A Lakewood woman has received a 20-year prison sentence for identity theft involving a ring that stole more than $100,000, prosecutors said.
Teresa Marie Porter was the leader of an identity theft ring that operated in the metro area from October 2009 through August, according to a Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office media release.
A Jefferson County grand jury indicted the group — a man and four women, including Porter — in November.
Porter faced 82 felony counts including racketeering, identity theft, theft, criminal impersonation and providing false information to a pawnbroker.
The DA’s office offered a 48-year prison sentence in exchange for Porter pleading guilty to all counts, which she did in March.
Last week, District Court Judge Phil McNulty sentenced Porter to a total of 20 years in prison, the release said.
The ring used stolen personal and financial information, including Social Security numbers, to open credit accounts in jewelry stores, prosecutors said. They then purchased thousands of dollars of high-end pieces on credit, which they pawned for cash.
The cases of four co-defendants – Michael West, 46, Lakewood; Robin Newberry, 45, Lakewood; Wendy Montano, 45, Aurora; and Pamela Rowe, 48, Westminster — are pending.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
