FDLE breaks up identity theft ring

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Wednesday announced that 42 individuals have been charged for their involvement in an elaborate organized fraud and identity theft ring operating across Central Florida. Investigators allege the scheme’s ring leader, Vanessa Rideau, 41, of Orlando, and her accomplices stole more than $200,000 from credit unions over a three-year period.

During the last two weeks, FDLE’s Orlando Regional Operations Center arrested 21 individuals in connection with the case, and arrest warrants have been issued for an additional 21 members of the ring.

FDLE began its investigation after receiving a complaint from a local credit union. The investigation revealed that Rideau recruited accomplices and provided them a small amount of money to open accounts at a local credit union.

Upon receiving ATM cards in the mail, the accomplices would sell the cards and the corresponding pin numbers to Rideau for a nominal fee. Rideau would then deposit fraudulent checks, via the ATM, into the recently opened accounts and then immediately make a withdrawal.

Once the deposited checks failed to clear, a representative from the credit union would call the account holder. The account holder would then claim his/her ATM cards were stolen and state that they had no knowledge of the deposits or the withdrawal.

During the investigation, FDLE determined that 28 of the 42 individuals charged are currently receiving public assistance benefits.

FDLE’s public assistance fraud investigators are actively investigating the potential public assistance fraud violations and are in contact with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Children and Families for review and potential revocation of benefits.

Attorney General Bill McCollum’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is prosecuting the case.