Identity Thief Thursday: Prepared Crook Steals Identity Twice

May 29, 2008

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As a former cub scout, I always think you should be prepared. Obviously Crystal Star Wright of Tempe Arizona believes in that too, because she was prepared for any event.

On March 18, Wright was arrested at a Wal-Mart in Tempe for picking up $1,250 worth of stuff that she had ordered using a stolen identity - one she had stolen via tax documents from someone’s mailbox.
The depressingly quick-thinking Wright did what any seasoned identity thief would do - she pulled out ANOTHER stolen identity and gave that to police.
The Nightmare Begins
That is where Peggy Farnsworth’s nightmare went from bad to worse.
Two months before that, her purse was stolen and she had been battling to fix up $12,000 in fake purchases and $8,000 in fines. She faced all the classic identity theft hassles.
But this time, there was some added fun. A friend noticed in the paper that Peggy Farnsworth was listed as having been arrested on suspicion of identity theft.
So now, not only was she out a whole bunch of money and time, she (or Wright posing as her) had an arrest record!
Because the crime was relatively minor (tell that to Peggy Farnsworth!), the police let Wright (aka fake Peggy) go.
Trying Times For The Real Peggy Farnsworth
From that time in mid-March until late May, Farnsworth had to live with the fact that her identity thief was out there.

“She will get her just reward. … Everyone that knows her knows they can’t trust her, and if they don’t they’re fools not to. … She thinks that because it’s all paper, there’s no (harm).”

Farnsworth’s words came to a stumbling halt, and she said she couldn’t explain her feelings. But then she found the words:

“It’s a lot of anger, a lot of anger I don’t usually carry.”

Finally Taken Down

Finally, in late May, Wright was picked up on a probation violation, and then they realized who they had (for real this time!). She’s now in jail and has accused of forgery, identity theft, providing false info to authorities, and a bunch of other charges.

Stolen ID or not, it just seems incredible to me that she was able to pass herself off as Farnsworth when the police actually had her. Hopefully the charges will stick and she will be put away for quite some time.

Source: East Valley Tribune

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