Police: 30 Arrested In ID Theft Ring

POSTED: 5:06 pm CDT May 20, 2008
UPDATED: 8:12 pm CDT May 20, 2008


DALLAS -- Dallas police officers said Tuesday they have broken up a major identity theft ring, NBC 5 reported.

Investigators said the eight-month investigation netted 30 arrests, including the ring leader of the group, which targeted women.

"It was a very organized scheme that they had. They'd get up in the morning and go watch a Star Bucks, a grocery store. Even a day care," said Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Kevin Janse. "Once they started making those arrests, suspects would start talking."

Police said that information led them to the suspected ringleader, Essie Evans, 48, a man with a long criminal history. Evans was arrested during a traffic stop in Plano. When police searched the home he was renting they said they found property from five other crimes.

Considering all of the people suspected to be working under Evans, police said the number of potential victims is overwhelming.

"Hundreds, literally hundreds and it's not just Dallas, they struck all over the metroplex," Janse said.

Police said the group's motive was clear.

"They would immediately go and use the credit cards to purchase high-dollar items like flat-screen TVs, stereos … to turn around and sell to support their drug habit," Janse said.

The people arrested in the ring are facing credit card and identity theft charges, but police said some of those charges could be upgraded to organized crime charges as early as next week.
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