A fourth Minnesotan has admitted his role in an identity theft scheme that netted up to $120,000 as they cashed bogus checks in three upper midwest states.
Christopher Englin, 28, 28, of Detroit Lakes, pleaded guilty in St. Paul to a count of bank fraud conspiracy, two counts of bank fraud, a count of identity theft and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He has seven previous forgery convictions dating back to 203.
Others pleading guilty late last month included Melissa Mae Oquin, 33, of Minneapolis; Malinda Ann Shaw, 25, of Fergus Falls; and Nadean Hope Rans, 36, of Shakopee.
Oquin also had previous convictions for forgery, mail theft, swindling and credit card fraud. Shaw has been convicted of theft, while Rans was convicted of forgery, theft and arson.
From 2007 through April 2008, the four plotted to steal mail from 10 to 50 victims and use that information to make false identification cards and fraudulent checks. The fake documents were used to steal cash from banks and other businesses in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
Englin and Shaw admitted using laptop computers, printers, scanners, check stock paper and memory cards to produce the false ID cards and checks.
Shaw admitted to renting a truck on Jan. 9, 2008 to drive from Fergus Falls to Minneapolis with personal property purchased with money from the scheme. The property was traded for illegal drugs and other items the group shared.
