Colorado Springs police hope arrest of 7 shuts down identity theft ring

Thieves allegedly printed fraudulent checks and driver's licenses after stealing mail

By Kaitlin Durbin

The Gazette

POSTED: 05/10/2016 11:39:07 AM MDT1 COMMENT

UPDATED: 05/10/2016 12:14:17 PM MDT

COLORADO SPRINGS — Police hope the arrest of seven people last week will shut down a major mail theft ring spanning five counties.

Misty Peterson, 28, Joey Bobbitt, 29, Sabrina Banales, 48, Doneice Cyprian, 40, Desere Sutton, 26, Lauren Tuggle, 25, and Joshua Kenyon, 37, were arrested Friday following a "complicated" month-long investigation, said Colorado Springs police spokesman Sgt. Joel Kern.

The seven are suspected of being part of "one concerted ring" that printed fraudulent checks and driver's licenses, stole mail from mailboxes and burglarized homes to access protected information, Kern said.

More than 100 potential victims have been identified across El Paso, Teller, Douglas, Elbert and Arapahoe counties, police said. Kern said people who have had mail stolen should immediately report that to credit fraud agencies.