Des Moines Police and U-S Postal Inspectors say they’ve broken up an identity theft ring in the Capitol City. Postal Inspector Linda Jensen says 48-year-old Frances Singleton of Des Moines led a seven-member ring that ripped off the identities of 16 people in the area. A couple of Singleton’s accomplices were employees at Des Moines medical offices, and they were able to steal information from medical records. Jensen says Singleton used the stolen information to go on-line and order computers from Dell and Gateway.Cops say the computers were sent to an address of someone Singleton knew. Jensen says the ring was able to illegally purchase $25,000 worth of computers and equipment. Victims contacted Des Moines police after getting bills for computers they did not buy. Jensen says it’s important for everyone to carefully examine their bills and report anything that looks suspicious. You can call a toll-free nationwide number to report I-D theft.The number is 1-877-ID-THEFT. Des Moines police arrested Singelton and four others, and are still looking for two more. They’re each charged with identity theft and ongoing criminal conduct. The others arrested are: 22-year-old Reginald Monson, 30-year-old Bernice Pearson, 35-year-old Danine Bustamante and 17-year-old Nichelle Scott. Police are still looking for 33-year-old James Singleton and 29-year-old Alishia Butler.
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