PEARLAND, Texas – Police are looking for three suspects charged with running an ID theft ring in an upscale Pearland neighborhood.
Investigators say they were using fake credit cards with IDs from victims all over the country. They used the credit cards to purchase gift cards. They’d then sell the gift cards for less than their value and pocket the cash.
The ring members were living the high life, driving fancy cars and operating out of two large homes in Pearland, according to investigators. One of them is a 7,000-square foot house in the 12300 block of Bayport in the Shadow Ranch subdivision.
The suspects have been identified as Lauren Ashley Roper, Lajuan Bailey, Shawn Nicholas Young and James Burke.
Police raided the homes and found stolen IDs from all over the country.
They also confiscated a Corvette, BMW and a pickup with $40,000 in upgrades — all paid for with gift cards.
“They lived very well,” said Lt. Onesimo Lopez with the Pearland Police Department. “For not having jobs, they lived very well.”
Burke is also involved with prostitution, according to investigators.
Two of the suspects, Bailey and Young, are wanted on separate charges in Harris County.
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Article source: http://www.khou.com/news/local/Police-ID-theft-ring-was-operating-in-upscale-Pearland-neighborhoods-113632899.html
Category: Identity Theft Watch