Women stole background check information

Four women have been arrested on accusations they stole background check information, and used it to make personal profit. Angela Cuellar, 32; Yolanda Ramos, 38; Diane Rivera, 33, and Christine Elifritz, 29, were indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft. Cuellar is also charged with six substantive aggravated identity theft counts; Elifritz and Ramos are also charged with one aggravated identity theft count. In a five month period – between March and July 2008 – Cuellar was employed by Integrated Biometrics Technology in Waco, where applicants provide personal information, such as social security numbers and dates of birth. She allegedly stole thousands of background check applications when she left the company, and the four women then used them to fraudulently obtain credit cards, open accounts, and purchase goods.

The women could face up to 15 years in prison – and this should serve as a warning to all those who have access to others personal information. You are in a position of trust when this type of information is available to you, and to betray that trust is unjustifiable. A harsh sentence should be a sufficient message to others who face similar temptations.