http://cbs4denver.com/crime/local_story_069220212.html

Mar 10, 2006 7:59 pm US/Mountain

Thieves Steal Checks From Retirement Home Resident

(AP) DENVER Prosecutors said Friday they filed theft, conspiracy and other charges against three people accused of stealing $2,300 in checks from residents of a retirement complex.

One of the three also tried to steal Social Security numbers and other personal information, and two were in the country on expired vacation visas from Ghana, Denver district attorney's spokeswoman Lisa Curtis said.

The suspects, Leticia Osei Bonsu, George Oppong and Raymond Wayoe, also face charges of forgery and criminal impersonation.

Bonsu, also known as Mavis Ofisu-Armaah, and Oppong were in custody on immigration holds because of expired visas, Curtis said.

Wayoe, also known as Jackson Aidoo, was released on a $10,000 bond, she said.

Prosecutors said Bonsu, using the Ofisu-Armaah name, was working as a nurse's aide at Cherry Oak Retirement Community and took checks from residents' apartments and gave them to Oppong and Wayoe. Six checks were cashed, Curtis said.

When she was arrested, Bonsu's purse contained other checks from more than 20 Cherry Oaks residents, and she also had several Social Security cards and other identification cards, Curtis said.

Curtis said Oppong worked at the Cherry Park retirement community and Wayoe worked as a certified nursing assistant at a local hospital, which she did not identify.

All three have been fired, she said.