MN: 3 indicted for aggravated identity theft, bank fraud

A recent federal indictment alleges that three Minnesotans used stolen identification information to create counterfeit checks to obtain cash and items from financial institutions and retail outlets.

The indictment, which was filed Tuesday, charges Kari Lynn Goodman, 40 of Savage, and Nathan Allen Miller, 26 of Isanti, with one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

Michelle Rae Schneider, 35 of Minneapolis, was also charged with one count of conspiracy. The indictment was unsealed yesterday, following Goodman’s initial appearance in federal court in the District of Minnesota.

The indictment alleges that from December of 2006 through February of 2009, the defendants conspired to commit bank fraud, identity fraud, and aggravated identity theft in order to obtain money and property.

The defendants allegedly obtained identification information from stolen mail and stolen checks, and then used that information to produce false identification and counterfeit checks.

Read more on KARE11. This may be related to an entry on the state’s site:

On July 6th, 2009 Kari Lynn Goodman, (DOB 3/16/1978), was persuaded to turn herself in to the Scott County Jail for active felony check forgery warrants. Goodman admitted to stealing six more identities and passing more than $40,000 worth of counterfeit checks in the most recent victims’ names. Goodman was charged with additional, County level, felony check forgery cases and she is being held pending court for them. Goodman also received an executed sentence of 13 months for probation violations stemming from active MNFCTF cases. (MNFCTF 08-001619, 08-001765, 08-001570, 09-000571)

Other web sites suggest that this is likely not Goodman’s first run-in with the law:

DATE: 1/29/2008
DEFENDANT: Kari Lynn Goodman
DOB: 3/16/1978
CITY/RESIDENCE: Savage, MN
AGENCY: Forest Lake Police Department
CHARGE: I: Check Forgery-Make or Alter a Check; II: Aiding and Abetting Identity Theft-Penalties-2 or 3 Direct Victims/Value to Direct and Indirect Victims $501-$2,500

DATE: 10/24/2008
DEFENDANT: Kari Lynn Goodman
DOB: 3/16/1978
CITY/RESIDENCE: Savage, MN
AGENCY: Forest Lake Police Department
CONVICTION: Aiding and Abetting Identity Theft
SENTENCE: Committed to the Commissioner of Corrections for a period of 13 months under a stay of execution and placed Defendant on probation for 5 years under the following conditions: 1) Serve 60 days in jail with credit for 14 days served. 2) Pay $50 fine plus surcharges. 3) Pay $1,000 to victim. 4) Complete a psychological evaluation and follow all recommendations. 5) Complete a chemical dependency evaluation and follow all recommendations. 6) Abstain from the use of all mood-altering chemicals, including alcohol, and submit to random urinalysis/breathalyzers at own expense. 7) Seek and maintain gainful employment. (8) No same or similar offenses, be law abiding, and cooperate with all the standard conditions of probation. 9) Cooperate with the transfer of her supervision to her county of residence. 10) Provide a biological specimen for purposes of DNA analysis.

DATE: 1/26/2009
DEFENDANT: Kari Lynn Goodman
DOB: 3/16/1978
CITY/RESIDENCE: Savage, MN
AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department
CHARGE: I: Drugs – 5th Degree – Possess Schedule 1,2,3,4 – Not Small Amount Marijuana

DATE: 1/11/2010
DEFENDANT: Kari Lynn Goodman
DOB: 3/16/1978
CITY/RESIDENCE: Savage, MN
AGENCY: Woodbury Police Department
CONVICTION: Controlled Substance Crime in the 5th Degree
SENTENCE: The defendant was committed to the Commissioner of Corrections for 17 months. Defendant is to pay a $50 fine, provide a DNA sample and is to receive credit for 207 days served.

Additional info.   ID theft and drug use is a bad combination in terms of recidivism, it seems.