A fifth member of an identity theft ring was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison after he and four women stole personal information, used funds to purchase high-end jewelry and then pawned the jewelry for cash.
Michael Eugene West, 47 of Aurora, and four other women, were indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury in November 2010, according to a news release from the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.
In July, a jury found West guilty of identity theft, conspiracy to commit theft of more than $20,000 and theft of more than $20,000.
Between October 2009 and August 2010, the group stole personal and financial information from individuals and businesses, and then used the information to set up credit and bank accounts.
They used stolen names, dates of birth, drivers’ licenses and Social Security numbers to create fraudulent checks and used them to purchase merchandise. Forged checks were deposited and used to empty money out of the accounts as well.
Victims’ information was also used to open credit card accounts.
“In many ways, this ID theft ring operated like others we’ve seen,” said District Attorney Scott Storey, “But an unusual twist was that the participants used stolen personal and financial information to open credit accounts in jewelry stores.”
The indictment named 19 people and 36 businesses as victims. Businesses included banks, credit unions, King Soopers, Safeway, convenience stores, Zales, Helzberg, Jared’s, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
The group also used profits from the theft ring to purchase methamphetamine.
West’s girlfriend, Teresa Porter, 44, was the ringleader. On Aug. 1, she was sentenced to 20 years in prison, after pleading guilty to 82 criminal counts including racketeering, identity theft, theft, criminal impersonation and providing false information to a pawnbroker.
Robin Newberry, 45 of Lakewood, pled guilty to one count of identity theft and was sentenced to two years in community corrections on Aug. 1.
Wendy Montano, 46 of Aurora, pled guilty to one count of identity theft, and was sentenced to three years probation and 80 hours of community service on Aug. 1.
Pamela Rowe, 48 of Westminster, was sentenced to six months in jail on Aug. 19 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor forgery charge.
