JEFFERSON COUNTY,Colorado - A grand jury has indicted six people for operating an identity theft ring and, according to the district attorney's office, the proceeds were used to buy methamphetamines.


According to the Jefferson and Gilpin County,Colorado District Attorney's Office, the grand jury indicted Steven Aragon, 41; Morgan Nerim, 28; Eric Rossi, 33; Georgia Parks, 46; Carla Ridgely, 34; and Sarah Maes, 24.

They are accused of running an ID theft ring between July and December 2006 and are charged with one count of identity theft each.

Steven Aragon is also charged with racketeering because authorities describe him as the ring leader. The DA says the target of the gang was to steal identities to buy drugs.

"This investigation by the Task Force shows us again how closely ID theft and methamphetamines are connected," said District Attorney Scott Storey in a press release.

The West Metro Drug Task Force worked on the investigation and discovered the ring was working out of a house on West 52nd in Arvada.

"It is vital that we find the resources to continue these investigations," Storey continued.

According to the DA's office, those charged stole personal and financial information from mail boxes and cars. They would then use that information to create fraudulent checks and identification.

The grand jury indictment also says the money stolen by the gang was always turned over to Aragon which he would use to further the activities of the gang, including the purchase of meth.

The indictment spells out another identity theft trick investigators say was used by the gang.

It says the gang members would open in-store credit accounts in the ringleader's name and then make purchases on the account.

Then, Steve Aragon would claim his identity had been stolen and that he was a victim of identity theft to get out of the bills. In fact, investigators say, Aragon went as far as to file police reports. His attempt to get out of those bills was never successful.

According to the indictment, the West Metro Drug Task Force seized drivers' licenses, identification cards, Social Security cards, debit/credit cards, blank bank checks and blank personal checks. They also seized a computer they think was used to make false documents.

Victims of the ID theft include several businesses, according to the indictment, including American Furniture Warehouse, Best Buy, King Soopers, Home Depot, Medved Chevrolet, Bellco Credit Union, TCF Bank, Horizon's North Credit Union, Big Lots, Pizza Hut and others.

Five of the suspects have been arrested. A warrant has been issued for Sarah Maes who is still on the loose.