Mpls. woman charged with credit card fraud, identity theft


CARVER COUNTY, Minn. — A 52-year-old woman from Minneapolis was charged Thursday in connection with a series of car thefts from the Lifetime Fitness in Chanhassen.

Dorene Fay Atwell was charged with one count of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, one count of Identity Theft and one count of Fifth Degree Drug Possession.

According to a criminal complaint, Atwell is accused of breaking into cars, stealing credit cards and using them at local businesses that involved stealing the identities of at least three people from Nov. 12, 2010, to Dec. 14, 2010.

She is allegedly part of a group that had been doing the crimes for more than a month. One victim told police that on Nov. 12, her car had been broken into and her purse had been stolen. The victim’s purse contained at least three credit cards.

That same day, police were called to the Target store in the 800 block of W. 78th St. in Chanhassen to investigate fraudulent use of credit cards. Authorities discovered that one of the victim’s credit cards was used for a $477.43 purchase. Another card was used for a purchase of $319.98.

On Dec. 9, another victim reported a car theft at the Lifetime Fitness in Chanhassen. The person’s bank card, Target credit card and another credit card had been stolen. Police discovered that Atwell had tried to use one of the cards for a $326.54 purchase.


She then went to the electronics department and purchased two Apple Ipads and a T-Mobile prepaid cell phone, totaling $1,389.34. Both transactions were declined.

Another theft was reported on Dec. 14, and a credit card was used for attempted purchases totaling more than $2,600. Only one transaction of $318 was approved.

Atwell’s daughter helped police locate her, and they were able to arrest her. Upon arrest, police discovered Atwell had in her possession a glass pipe with a burnt white residue. It was later discovered to be cocaine.

If convicted on all three charges, Atwell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or $40,000 in fines.

(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)


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Article source: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=898786


Tags: credit card fraud, id theft

Category: Identity Theft Watch

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