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Pam Russell DA Public Information 303-271-6905

Re: DA Announces Two Identity Theft Indictments On Same Day ID Theft Bill Introduced to Legislature

First Judicial District Attorney Scott Storey held a news conference Monday announcing the unsealing of two new indictments charging 13 people under the racketeering statute, in violation of Colorado's Organized Crime Control Act.  Storey, who has been District Attorney for just over one year, has made a committed effort in the fight against identity theft.  He seated a second grand jury to address the cases in particular and has charged dozens of people engaging in one form or another of identity theft under the racketeering statute. This statue is a class two felony and carries a possible penalty of 8-24 years in prison.  But these cases are very time consuming; one of the cases took two years investigation to have it ready to present to the District Attorney's Office, and the other took one year.

    Storey has for years been a fierce advocate of an identity theft law that would protect victims and enhance penalties for those involved identity theft.  Storey said, "I am so pleased that the bill was introduced on the day we are announcing these two indictments.  We desperately need this.  The existing Theft, Criminal Impersonation and forgery statutes were not designed to handle these complex identity theft rings."

    The 2005 Federal Trade Commission statistics on Identity Theft and Consumer Fraud have just been released, and again, for the second year in a row, they show Colorado ranking number 5th in the US for the highest number of identity theft victims per capita.  Colorado is one of only two states with out a specific identity theft law.