Seven young women from Chicago, the south suburbs and downstate have been arrested for their alleged roles in a massive identity theft ring that claimed hundreds of victims from across the country.
[…]
The year-long identity theft scam saw the those involved charging more than $300,000 in more than 500 transactions involving jewelry, furniture, household goods, appliances and electronics, then selling the items to friends and relatives for a cash profit, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.
Investigators said the ring was headed by three sisters and their male friends. One of those sisters is in custody, while the others are considered fugitives. Blount was arrested Wednesday at her home at 606 E. Woodland Park, the release said. Her sisters — Laqueshia Holmes, 25, of 8133 S. Emerald St.; and Tijuana Leonard, 33, of 1511 E. 73rd St. — are believed to be fleeing.
Leonard got a job with The Millard Group, a janitorial service based in Lincolnwood which hires temporary labor, the release said. The firm served as a subcontractor for cleaning services at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, located in the Galter Pavilion at 675 N. St. Clair St.
The job allowed Leonard unsupervised, after-hours access to areas where confidential patient files were stored, the release said. A pattern developed where many patients who saw doctors on the 19th through 21st floors of that building became the victims of identity theft.
The investigation revealed that Leonard, while cleaning, would steal personal information from patient files, and her conspirators would go online and either apply for credit cards or request credit reports.
Read more on MyFoxChicago.