The Associated Press
Nov. 14, 2006
RICHMOND -- Fifty-one people have been indicted on federal charges of identity theft and related offenses in the Richmond area, federal and state prosecutors said Tuesday.
The charges stem from "Operation Reconcile," an initiative led by a task force established two years ago to deal with identity theft and fraud in and around Richmond, U.S. Attorney Chuck Rosenberg and state Attorney General Bob McDonnell said in a joint statement.
"Identity theft is the fastest-growing white-collar crime in the nation," McDonnell said. "As we bring relief to the victims of the indicted individuals, our office will continue to work with our partners in the Metro-Richmond Identity Theft Task Force to pursue identity thieves in the Richmond area and across the commonwealth."
Said Rosenberg: "I am quite certain that charging more than four dozen Richmond-area folks and putting them in federal prison signals our resolve to combat identity theft vigorously."
Twenty-six of the defendants were charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of two years in prison that must run consecutive to any other prison term imposed. It is the only federal fraud offense that requires a prison term upon conviction.
Rosenberg announced a campaign to educate the public on the mandatory prison term. The campaign slogan "Think Before you Do IT" will appear on the sides and interiors of Richmond city buses.
The identity theft task force, which consists of 15 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, operates out of the Postal Inspection Service office in Henrico County.