Law Firm Employee Charged with Stealing Clients' Identities
An employee of a San Jose, Calif., law firm has been accused of operating an identity theft ring that used identities stolen from the firm’s clients.
The press release announcing the arraignment of the employee, Chev Chan, and five other defendants does not name the law firm where he worked. Chan is accused of being one of two ringleaders of the group that went on an “identity theft spree” between June and December 2009.
The group is accused of stealing 20 identities and more than $170,000 worth of cash, expensive clothing, jewelry and accessories. According to the press release, members of the ring bought flat screen TVs, a Gucci watch and $31,000 worth of merchandise from Neiman-Marcus.
Members of the ring raised cash by returning items bought using fake identities, the press release says.
Most of the identities were stolen from the law firm and from a dental office where another defendant worked, California Attorney General Edmund Brown says in the release.
Chan is accused of using stolen identities to open Discover, Bank of America and Chase credit cards. Prosecutors allege he used his work computer to open fraudulent credit card accounts for two victims, and to open two Post Office boxes to receive mail under the victims’ names. The press release does not identify Chan’s position at the law firm.
Chan is charged with conspiring to commit identity theft, theft, identity theft, possession of stolen property and receiving stolen property, the press release says.
Hat tip to ChiefOfficers.net.
