WICHITA WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO IDENTITY THEFT

She was one of five defendants indicted in local bank fraud scheme

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita woman pleaded guilty Monday to stealing another woman’s identity with intent to pass counterfeit or stolen checks.

Trina L. Mosher, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft. She entered the plea during a hearing Monday before U.S. District Judge Monti L. Belot in Wichita.

“Ms. Mosher was one of five conspirators who participated in a scheme to defraud at least 10 Wichita area banks,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren.

Other defendants charged in the case include:

Thomas E. Green, 31, who was sentenced to 102 months in prison.
Luke E. Williams, 26, who was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment.
Danielle E. Lewis, 31, who is set for sentencing Jan. 8, 2007.
Kimberly A. Ho, 25, who was sentenced to time served and 3 years probation.

In her plea, Mosher admitted that she was carrying a fraudulent driver’s license on Jan. 10, 2006, when Wichita police stopped the car in which she was riding. She intended to use the license, which had Mosher’s photo and another woman’s name, to pass counterfeit or stolen checks drawn on the woman’s bank account.

Mosher faces a mandatory sentence of 2 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. She is set for sentencing Feb. 26, 2007.

According to the indictment in the case, banks upon which counterfeit checks were drawn include Colwich State Bank, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Main St. Bank, Southwest National Bank, Fidelity Bank, Bank One, Commerce Bank, Emprise Bank and Intrust Bank.

Melgren commended the Wichita Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch, who is prosecuting.

##