Everett police bust massive ID theft ring
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EVERETT, Wash. -- Using hotels as hubs for a crime network has a big catch -- the paper trail.
Six defendants ended up in court on Friday after months of work by Everett police and the The United States Secret Service.
Snohomish County Prosecutors say the defendants defrauded at least 100 people through identity and bank account theft. Everett police say it was an intricate group.
"Runners and collectors and then the organizers of the ring," said Sgt. Ryan Dalberg with the Everett Police Department.
Runners would poach information from mailboxes, collectors would use fake IDs and forge checks at local stores and organizers would wrangle it all.
One of the accused, Jennifer Speelmon, allegedly worked out of an Everett hotel. After searching her room, police found stolen jewels and coins, stolen mail, counterfeit checks and credit cards.
When she was arrested back in October, police say she was carrying a notebook with names and addresses -- all under the title "people to rob."
But it all came undone earlier this week at a Safeway in Shoreline, where the county says Latasha Chambers and Richard Walton tried to pass counterfeit checks inside. But Chambers dropped a check in the parking lot while trying to hide it.
They were arrested, and that led police to Michael Suryan, who is court documents is described as one of the ringleaders of the group.
Police went into Suryan's room at the inn and found a trove of forgery equipment -- computers, lamination machines, fake IDs and even the Washington state seal.
He, like many of the others, eventually admitted to the crimes and landed in court.
The hubs of a crime network undone by the paper trail.
Six defendants ended up in court on Friday after months of work by Everett police and the The United States Secret Service.
Snohomish County Prosecutors say the defendants defrauded at least 100 people through identity and bank account theft. Everett police say it was an intricate group.
"Runners and collectors and then the organizers of the ring," said Sgt. Ryan Dalberg with the Everett Police Department.
Runners would poach information from mailboxes, collectors would use fake IDs and forge checks at local stores and organizers would wrangle it all.
One of the accused, Jennifer Speelmon, allegedly worked out of an Everett hotel. After searching her room, police found stolen jewels and coins, stolen mail, counterfeit checks and credit cards.
When she was arrested back in October, police say she was carrying a notebook with names and addresses -- all under the title "people to rob."
But it all came undone earlier this week at a Safeway in Shoreline, where the county says Latasha Chambers and Richard Walton tried to pass counterfeit checks inside. But Chambers dropped a check in the parking lot while trying to hide it.
They were arrested, and that led police to Michael Suryan, who is court documents is described as one of the ringleaders of the group.
Police went into Suryan's room at the inn and found a trove of forgery equipment -- computers, lamination machines, fake IDs and even the Washington state seal.
He, like many of the others, eventually admitted to the crimes and landed in court.
The hubs of a crime network undone by the paper trail.
The police and prosecutors are a joke. I had identity theft that lasted for two years. I finally found the person myself. The police wouldn't prosecute until I told them I was going to their house and I was going to kill them myself. I did go to their house and threaten them, and found a bunch of mail in my name. The police finally went and arrested them for fear of liability if I did kill them.
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It took the police another two years to get the clown into court, and still they called me twice asking "are you sure you really want to prosecute?". Idiots. Of course I'm sure. And I'm sure they were out in no time doing the same thing again.
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Recently somebody stole one of my credit card numbers. I asked Capital One if they were going to follow up. The answer was no, they hadn't stole enough money for it to be worth their time. Idiots. The problem is the credit card companies and the police let all kinds of evidence go, and miss tons of opportunities to go after these people. The decision to prosecute is made on the $ amount of the crime, but for somebody that's had identity theft, it doesn't matter how much money they got away with, they've made your life hell, making a mess of credit scores, car loans, the hassle of changing bank accounts numerous times, and the violation of having your identity stolen.
@Bellevue Scott I did something similar....told the police that I, unlike them, could be judge, jury and executioner....folks were arrested that afternoon...AFTER I gave the police the address where they had been for the last 3 YEARS! It was in the COURT RECORDS...DUH!
These scum-sucking losers cause so much trouble for people  A few years ago, they  pegged our neighborhood as an easy target and, according to the police officer we talked to, routinely told other inmates about how easy it was to steal mail from us.  They're the reason everyone around here had to blow a couple hundred bucks on locking mailboxes.  I loathe them all.  But, yeah, Windowseat is right: they'll be right back at it in no time, unfortunately.
Off to Attu Island with all of them. There's no place for this kind of scum in our community.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attu_Island
Good police work but the courts will have these fools back on the streets in time for tax refund time...
Legislators need to catch up to the fact that, with the internet age making crime easier and more widespread in many respects, that economic assault such as identity theft is something that merits much more serious law and sentencing. It was not so long ago that it was common for people who were victims of identity theft to have to fight to get a police report filed and had to navigate lengthy detective work on their own for their banks. It's economic crime and it impacts people.Â
POS LOSERS! Time to get tough on crime. Let's make an example of these worthless pieces of flesh. I know it's just wishful thinking but I'm an optimist.
Just remember, rope is reusable!
Don't let Judge Doyle near these creeps. She'll dismiss all charges.
Ok so now they caught these clowns so I hope they just don't give them a pat on the hand and 30 days in jail for it. Maybe they should get 2 years for everyone they screwed their credit up. I wonder how long they would be in the can if the courts used that as a guide line?
Near end of video, there's that woman in yellow sweater walking by the news reporter saying something and he refers to what she said in the remainder of his news story at the end there, did anyone catch that??
...will plea bargain down to JayWalking4...
Removal of both hands of all concerned ought to put an end to their lawless ways.
Oh now...Just ONE might get the message across...save the other for any who didnt learn the FIRST time.
Good job. ID theft is something that needs to be a thing of the past. Hopefully this will help make a dent in it.
Now it's up to the courts to give a punishment that actually make them think twice about going back to the same racket.
Great job officers. This is diffidently something to be proud of.
@Just my say What does "diffidently" mean?
@GOATCUTTERÂ It means to behave in a shy or timid way.
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@GOATCUTTER: If you're going to screw up spelling a word don't do it half-heartedly. I think, (I hope), Just my say was trying to say definately, or some other word expressing that sentiment. ;-)
@usnrbb "definately"? You mean "definitely"?