Son’s questions lead to identity theft arrest

Elderly woman vcitimized; additional charges likely

A son noticing several months of unusual activity on the financial accounts of his elderly mother led to the arrest Saturday of a Hillsboro woman on four counts of identity theft.

Additional charges and possibly an additional arrest are likely, assistant police chief Jessey Hiebert said Monday.

The ongoing case has been under investigation since November, when police first learned about a series of allegedly fraudulent Internet purchases posted to the account of the elderly resident.

“It was several months before it was discovered,” arresting officer David Funk said Monday. “For whatever reason, no one had been looking at her records. In November is when the victim’s son finally noticed unusual activity and brought it to our attention.”

A long and complex investigation ensued. Police had to contact each financial institution and vendor involved in every questionable purchase. Vendors and financial institutions were in multiple different jurisdictions, and each had different rules on how purchases could be questioned, Funk said.

Each purchase legally is regarded as a separate crime, and since no purchase was for more than $1,000, each is being treated as a separate misdemeanor, Funk said.

Because the investigation is continuing, with additional reports involving an additional suspect being filed this week with the county attorney, Funk declined to say exactly how the debit card number of the victim was obtained.

He did verify that the victim was a resident of a retirement apartment or assisted living community in Hillsboro and that, to date, she was the only victim who had been identified.

Taken into custody Saturday in connection with the case was Christina R. Greany, 36, who was arrested on warrants alleging four counts of identity theft. She was released early the next day.

In November, Greany also was charged in an unrelated case with nine counts of issuing worthless checks. That case is pending.

Greany in the past has worked as a nurse at assisted living centers in the county and elsewhere.

Asked what advice he could offer residents concerned about identity theft, Funk urged citizens to check all debit card statements promptly and challenge any unfamiliar purchases.