FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
ANNA MARIE SCOTT PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on December 18, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ANNA MARIE SCOTT, a 26-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to credit card fraud and identity theft. Sentencing is set for April 3, 2008. She is currently released on special conditions.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In August of 2007, an investigation began into fraudulently obtained credit cards being issued using the identities of A.M.S. and C.S. by SCOTT and her husband.
In 2005 in Longview, Washington, SCOTT and her husband began defrauding local businesses by manufacturing fraudulent payroll checks to receive payday loans for local lending establishments.
In 2005, SCOTT'S husband was employed as a car salesman at an automobile dealership in Longview, Washington. He was able to observe passwords on the wall of the finance office for "700 Credit." At first, he used the passwords to check he and his wife's credit, and his parents' credit history. Later, he located two individuals that had purchased automobiles that were near the same age and had the same last name as he and his wife. SCOTT and her husband then began obtaining credit cards using the personal information (including Social Security numbers) of A.M.S. and C.S. The credit cards were issued by Herbergers, Wal-Mart, Sears, CARE, American Express, Image, Dell, GE Capitol Racing, Home Depot, Lowes, Summit Racing, Sprint, AT&T, Comcast and DIRECTV. All or most of the credit cards were maxed out.
In July of 2007, the SCOTT and her husband purchased a 2007 Dodge Charger from Lithia Dodge in Great Falls using the credit history of A.M.S. A.M.S. discovered her identity had been stolen when she attempted to purchase a home. A.M.S. had previously purchased a vehicle at the automobile dealership in Longview, Washington.
C.S. reviewed his credit report and determined that credit accounts through CARE, Home Depot, Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Summit Racing, Spring, AT&T, Comcast and DIRECTV had been fraudulently obtained using his personal identity in 2005 and 2006, for a total of $17,745.65.
A.M.S. reviewed her credit report and determined that credit accounts through CARE, Chrysler Financial, Dell, Wal-Mart, Sears, Herbergers and American Express had been fraudulently obtained using her personal identity during 2005, 2006 and 2007, for a total of $61,337.21.
SCOTT faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
