Sixteen Colorado residents were indicted by a grand jury Nov. 22 on 168 counts after law enforcement discovered that the group was responsible for a statewide identity-theft ring that victimized more than a hundred individuals and businesses across Colorado.
Matthew Mccluskey, 47, Brittany Cox, 21, Matthew Leman, 30, Jennifer Spade, 41, Lauren Ciparro, 19, Johnnie Main, 20, Carla Cominiello, 30, Michael Dicino, 28, Teresa Kidlow, 35, and Michael Relic, 42, were arrested earlier this week and are being held on bonds ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Defendant Laura Fritz, 26, will be issued a summons to appear in court.
Defendants Robert Turner, 46, Alyse Shank, 19, William Joseph Roberts, 45, Jennifer Putman, 28 and Roy B. Frank, 36, remain at large. The Arapahoe County District Attorneys Office and local law enforcement agencies are seeking the public’s help in locating the five remaining defendants.
“This indictment is the accumulation of many months of investigation by numerous law enforcement agencies across the state,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Cheryl Rowles-Stokes, Chief of the District Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit. “Hundreds, if not thousands, of man hours were devoted to the eradication of this identity theft ring for the protection of not only the businesses and citizens of Arapahoe County, but the businesses and citizens of our state as well. Due to the dedication and investigative leadership of D.A. Investigator Marc White and A.P.D. Detective Gordon Madonna, we were able to remain focused on the massive task at hand and were able to clearly, succinctly and orderly present evidence to the Arapahoe County Grand Jury in a timely manner.”
The defendants were discovered and captured as a result of a collaborative effort of the Arapahoe County District Attorneys Office Economic Crimes Unit, the Aurora Police Department, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service of Denver, Parker Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Arvada Police Department and the Lafayette Police Department.
“This 168-count grand jury indictment has brought an end to a prolific criminal enterprise”, said Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates. “Thanks to the diligent and effective efforts of investigators from a number of law enforcement agencies, and the work of the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office, the defendants named in the indictment are no longer free to prey on communities throughout the state.”
Inspector in Charge, Oscar S. Villanueva, of the US Postal Inspection Service in Denver stated, “US Postal Inspectors continue to protect the safety of the American public through investigations such as this one which involve mail theft. US Postal Inspectors, working alongside local and state agencies, aggressively investigate those who choose to steal US mail to further their criminal activities.”
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