Identity theft can play a role in white-collar crimes ranging from money laundering to tax fraud.  Perhaps most interesting are the schemes which share identity theft and money laundering as common elements, like the one mentioned at "A Tax Fraud & Identity Theft From Miami".  Identity theft and money laundering are similarly alleged to have occurred in the case of U.S.A. v. Renee Gill Pratt, et. al. Criminal No. 2:08-cr-00140. 

The May 22, 2009 superseding indictment in Pratt, alleges that former Louisiana state representative and New Orleans city councilwoman Renee Gill Pratt participated in a RICO criminal enterprise which misappropriated government funds and concealed assets.  Said superceding indictment contains a total of thirty-four counts alleging money laundering, aggravated identity theft and other crimes, as mentioned by an FBI press release.

Identity theft is of course, not just limited to cases involving money laundering.  In U.S.A. vs. Torrella et. al. 3:07-cr-05775 for example, data brokers Emilio and Brandy Torrella pleaded guilty on May 20, 2008 to violating 18 U.S.C. §1028A (aggravated identity theft), among other things.  As my post "Pretexting During An Asset Search" explained, the Torrellas were accused with private detectives, of illegally obtaining confidential information from the I.R.S., Social Security Administration, pharmacies, medical offices and various state labor departments. 

The Torrellas had violated people’s privacy rights and committed aggravated identity theft by making pretext calls, (i.e. eliciting information by using false identities / false pretenses in telephone calls).  They are now scheduled for sentencing before the Court on July 10, 2009. 

    

Copyright 2009 Fred L. Abrams