ORC ID theft ring hits Meijers self-checkout lane and drags Secret Service agent in pursuit 50 feet while driving away during their getaway. The Secret Service had been conducting an investigation into identity theft, wire fraud and access-device fraud in West Michigan by those who buy large numbers of stored-value cards, or gift cards, using credit cards re-encoded with stolen account numbers after being called by Meijer's Loss Prevention about a specific group. Once at the store, special agent Bruce Cain recognized a man who has been subject of investigation, then, recognized Pointer as she used a credit card in the self-checkout lane to buy clothing and several Meijer gift cards. Cain watched Pointer check out, then followed her to the parking lot where she got into her car. Cain approached, and repeatedly identified himself as a law-enforcement officer, the Secret Service said. SA Cain held onto the vehicle, repeatedly demanding that Pointer stop the vehicle. Instead, Pointer continued to accelerate at a high rate. "After the vehicle had covered about 50 feet in less than three or four seconds, SA Cain realized that Pointer was not going to stop and was going to continue to accelerate." Cain let go and fell to the ground. The suspect was apprehended. (Source mlive.com)

Bank Teller - center pin - for ID theft gang based in Minnesota that stole over $2 million from banks and retailers in 14 states pleads guilty A 25-year-old Ham Lake woman pleaded guilty June 6 in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to two felony charges for her role in a large-scale identity theft ring. She was part of a larger scale identify theft ring responsible for stealing approximately $2 million from financial institutions and retail businesses in no fewer than 14 states. Besides Blegen, 12 of her co-consiprators have already entered guilty pleas for their involvement in the crimes. Another dozen alleged co-conspirators entered not guilty pleas and are scheduled to go on trial in late August. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit bank fraud is 30 years. There is a mandatory sentence of two years for identity theft, which would be served consecutively with whatever penalty she receives for the bank fraud charge. (Source abcnewspapers.com)