March 26, 2010
-
News: Women Steals Credit Cards To Feed Herself
A Seattle woman is being held in the King County jail for breaking into mailboxes, stealing checks and credit card numbers, and auto theft for what she claims was to feed herself. Crystal E. Casano was arrested while she was on her way to a hotel. When police searched her purse, they found numerous stolen credit cards, stolen ID and driver's licenses, and a stolen social security card. When the police asked if it was okay to search Casano's car. She replied that if they did, they would find things that would get her into trouble. After obtaining proper authority, a search of the car revealed a binder with information on other individuals, a printer, a laminating machine, and several counterfeit licenses with Casano's name and picture along with numerous stolen credit card numbers.
The search of Casano's car also turned up an accordion folder with stolen checks, hotel receipts and credit card numbers belonging to other individuals. One of the stolen checks had been written for $40,000 to a contractor who said his mailbox had been broken into. A number of other individuals that had complained about unauthorized transactions on their credit cards said they had stayed at the hotels where some of the unauthorized charges took place. The police found receipts from hundreds of victims in Casano's car. When asked why she stole all the documents, Casano replied it was to feed herself.
In court documents, Casano wrote that she needed the money to take care of herself and buy groceries. She learned how to make counterfeit documents on her computer from a friend. Lisa Napoli O'Toole, Senior Deputy Prosecutor told the court that they expect hundreds of more victims to surface based on the number of stolen receipts and credit card numbers that were found in the defendant's car. Casano has been charged with 12 counts of second degree identity theft, and car theft in an unrelated incident. She is being held in jail on $65,000 bail.