ID theft ring that hit Bernanke's wife included wig wearing check casher
MIAMI -- A sophisticated identity theft ring that counted Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's wife among its victims didn't stop at stealing electronically. Authorities said Tuesday it also sent a woman wearing a variety of wigs into bank branches to drain their accounts in person.
Shonya Michelle Young, 38, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., was expected to appear in Miami federal court Tuesday afternoon. She was being held at the federal detention center in Miami on a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Young was the girlfriend of one of the ringleaders, U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Barry Golden said Tuesday.
"She was a major check casher," Golden said.
Victims were targeted in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Illinois and elsewhere. Among them: Anna Bernanke, whose purse was stolen outside a Capitol Hill coffee shop in August 2008. Someone started cashing checks using the Bernankes' bank account days later.
According to District of Columbia police, the purse contained Anna Bernanke's Social Security card, checkbook, credit cards and IDs. It has not been revealed how much money was stolen from the couple.
When Young was arrested Monday at a corporate apartment complex near Miami International Airport, authorities said she had a fraudulent New York driver's license and a Visa debit card under the name Deborah L. Taverna, along with several wigs.
"She had about three wigs that she would wear to mimic her victims or change her appearance," Golden said.
Young would impersonate the victims to obtain fake IDs and cash illegal checks, draining their bank accounts, authorities said.
U.S. Marshals initially sought Young at her South Carolina home, but she had fled to Miami. Nine of the ring's members have been arrested, Golden said. They were identified in an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Secret Service and D.C. police.
Other fugitives are being sought, said U.S. Postal Inspector Bill Aiello.
The Federal Reserve declined comment Tuesday because the investigation is ongoing. Last week, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke thanked law enforcement officials for working to solve the case and prevent others from becoming fresh victims.
