Four people are already headed to jail, but two more are still on the
loose, accused of stealing the identities of more than a dozen senior
citizens. Two of the women got jobs at Northern Kentucky nursing homes,
where prosecutors say they lifted the information needed to get phony
credit cards.
Local 12's Joe Webb looks at how the plan unraveled in this developing
story.
Police say Kimberly Knight and Latoya Bounds worked hard at their nursing
home jobs. Knight worked at Carmel Manor in Fort Thomas, Bounds at Atria
Highland Crossing in Fort Wright. But it wasn't the care they were giving
that made them stand out, it was the social security numbers they were
taking and what they did with them.
Andrew Berghausen, Assistant Hamilton County Prosecutor: "Went online and
when asked to put in a name, they put in the name of the patient of the
nursing home and when asked for a social security number they put in the
nursing home patient's social...date of births also put in. That will
match up with the national credit databases and it will show that they
have good credit."
When collection agencies started contacting nursing home residents about
big screen t-v purchases and big cash advances, police got suspicious and
busy.
Michael Stallings was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for his
role in the scheme. Knight will be sentenced next week. Bounds is still on
the loose. Crystal ****ter and Marketta Adams will be sentenced in
May. Police are still looking for Lakesha Douglas.
14 senior citizens were targeted, but all have been made whole. The bulk
of the victims were from Atria Highland Crossing in Fort Wright. According
to the prosecutor, Latoya Bounds wasted no time stealing the
information. She got it all in less than one full ****ft. She was let go
after only four hours on the job.
"We believe in that short period of time she was there, she had access to
that information and got it."
A background check didn't show Bounds' criminal history. She re****tedly
applied for the job with a stolen identity.
Joe Webb, Local 12.
No one from Carmel Manor would comment today. Atria issued a statement
saying they have zero tolerance for any criminal activity and are grateful
no residents lost any money. Prosecutors say both nursing homes cooperated
fully with the investigation
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