(Spencer)– Separate investigations by the Spencer Police Department have resulted in the arrests of several people on identity theft, credit card fraud and theft charges.
Authorities say 26-year-old Joseph VanDerske of Royal was charged with identity theft…a class “D” felony…for allegedly using the bank account information of another person to establish internet pornography accounts. Police say by the time the identity theft was discovered, the accounts incurred monthly charges of more than 2,900-dollars. The incidents are alleged to have taken place between May, 2007 and January of this year. VanDerske turned himself in to the Spencer Police Department on Tuesday.
29-year-old Alison Tapia of Spencer was arrested for credit card fraud…a class “D” felony…after turning herself into Spencer police on Wednesday. She was wanted in connection with a credit card that had been reported lost in Spencer on Sunday. Authorities say the owner had been notified of several unauthorized transactions made on Sunday and Monday totalling more than 1,500-dollars in merchandise at area businesses.
And 36-year-old Deidra Osberg of Spencer was charged with theft in the second degree…a class “D” felony…after being arrested around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police say Osberg presented and conspired with others to present several “closed account” checks to Spencer businesses between July, 2007 and January, 2008. The checks total between one thousand and 10-thousand dollars. Spencer businesses have continued to report additional checks written on the closed account. Authorities say their investigation continues in that case and that more arrests are likely.
