Maintaining good relationships with in-laws after a divorce is never easy. Kathleen Marion Studnicka, of Rochester, MN, added to that challenge by allegedly taking out more than $100,000 in student loans and credit cards in her former mother-in-law’s name, according to a criminal complaint.
The unnamed victim became aware of the identity theft in January when a credit card company called to ask when she planned to make a payment on the $15,398 balance she was carrying on her credit card.
Sure enough, the card was linked to her name and Social Security number, but the address for the card was that of Studnicka, her former daughter-in-law.
The victim contacted law enforcement, and reported the identity theft, adding that Studnicka had a history of similar crimes.
She then requested a copy of her credit report and learned of another $90,000 in fraudulent charges, most of it student loans accrued between October 2006 and October 2008. In total, 11 student loans and two credit cards had been taken out in the woman’s name.
The case was strengthened by a convenience check in the amount of $10,000 made out to, and endorsed by Studnicka.
According to the complaint, Studnicka acknowledged the accounts, when she was contacted by Waseca Detective James Armendariz; she said she knew he was calling about “loans and stuff.”
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