PUEBLO COUNTY, COLO. -- Pueblo County Sheriff's deputies said more than 70 people were victims of identity fraud in a ring leading back to December.
Deputies arrested five women over the past three months in connection with the string of fraud cases.
The investigation began in December after a victim reported a number of blank checks were stolen from her mailbox in Pueblo, and detectives learned that 71 checks were forged.
Detectives narrowed down the suspect search to five after going through surveillance videos at area businesses. When they conducted a search warrant at a home, they found torn fraud ID cards, a scanner/printer/copier, a laminator and other documents with other people's names on them.
They found a laptop that had 49 more fraud IDs with pictures of the suspects on them. Deputies said most of the names were real victims, but some were made up. They also determined stolen credit cards were used in at least six other states besides Colorado.
Detectives said many more cases went unreported, and the total amount was more than $30,000.
Deputies arrested 34-year-old Jamie Wetmore, 29-year-old Laurie Cordova, 30-year-old Bree Agee, 35-year-old Ember Peaslie and 45-year-old Guillermina Medina.
If convicted each of the women could face up to 48 years in prison.
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