(Estherville)– An investigation by Estherville police into an identity theft ring has resulted in the arrest of a California woman.
Officers say it stems from back on July 14th when they received a report from a local bank regarding possible identity theft. Officers says bank employees had received an e-mail from one of their branch locations stating that there were suspects in the area trying to withdraw money from an account. The subject was believed to be using the account and identity of a customer.
Upon further investigation, police were able to track down a suspect in the case, identified as 58-year-old LaRhonda Ann Moore-Bias of Los Angeles, California. Moore-Bias was arrested on three counts of forgery and one count of identity theft, all class “D” felonies. She was booked into the Emmet county jail on bond of $33,950.
Moore-Bias was also wanted on Cerro Gordo county warrants for identity theft, forgery and second degree theft with a total bond of $20,000 cash only.
Police say the investigation continues with cooperation from the Mason City Police Department, the Clear Lake Police Department, the Portland, Oregon Police Department, State of Oregon Attorney General’s Office, the State of Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; and the LEIN Region 1 Fusion Center.
Estherville Police Chief Eric Milburn says it’s part of a major identity theft ring that’s currently operating throughout the U.S.
