ID theft linked to human smugglers
August 5th, 2008 @ 9:00am
by Sandra Haros/KTAR

Identity theft and human smuggling are becoming ``partners in crime."

An active-duty soldiers fell victim to the partnership last year when she made a pit stop before work, Phoenix police said.

The female soldier left all her belongings in her unlocked car and ran into a convenience store. Moments later, her car was gone with all her possessions.

``It's going to cost me quite a bit of time, effort, probably some extra cash, to get my identity back," said the soldier.

Police believe she was one of at least six victims of a couple using stolen IDs to rent cars, then selling them to coyotes, or human smugglers.

Desiree Canez, 39, and Richard Somoza, 40, are believed to have made nearly $200,000 in their scheme. The two were arrested last week and are now in jail.

``This is a trend we're seeing now," said Phoenix Police Detective Craig Walker.

He said coyotes would place orders by phone to Canez and Somoza on what kind of car they wanted.

``They even pointed out the fact that they're no longer going after the Suburbans or the Tahoes because that's what Border Patrol is looking for," Walker said.

Canez and Somoza sold the vehicles for between $300 and $1,000 each to coyotes, who then took the cars to Mexico, police said.

Walker said that Somoza, ``when asked how many (victims) he believes he has taken using this method, said he believes they have stolen 50 cars."



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