Nine face charges in identity thefts

Friday, April 15, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a Las Vegas-based identity-theft ring for allegedly stealing credit card information and running up about $1.3 million in expenses on victim's accounts.

The grand jury indicted nine people for identity theft, mail fraud, conspiracy and 13 other counts relating to alleged crimes committed between July 2003 and October 2004.

The group accessed upwards of 60 credit card accounts and, over the year, went on a spending spree that included purchasing a $30,000 Rolex watch from an upscale Beverly Hills, Calif., jewelry store.

Various suspects allegedly had a penchant for luxury watches. Various members purchased four watches for a total cost of more than $80,000, according to the indictment.

The group also used the stolen credit card information to buy stereo equipment, jewelry and computer equipment.

One suspect, Paul Sungmah Shin, allegedly accessed at least 900 credit reports containing personal account information.

Besides Shin, the suspects include Kamaludeen Adeboye Giwa, Jacqueline Accioly Ferreira, Tanesha Thomas, Shavina Tamia Yepez, Jose Daniel Masa, Hassan Iddrissu and Annice Michelle Allen.