Identity Thieves Arrested

     On Monday, March 30, 2009, Claudia Hernandez-Lara, D.O.B. 2-17-72, was arrested at 100 Flecha Ln. for Credit Card Abuse SJF (4 Counts) and Tampering with Evidence F/3.

      The arrest stems from a two year investigation involving social security numbers being fraudulently obtained from an individual posing as a hospital employee via telephone and soliciting the information from patients and using them to obtain goods and services. The ring fraudulently obtained the social security numbers of numerous victims and caused almost a hundred thousand dollars worth of losses to major credit card companies locally and in Mexico. The ring leader is identified as Arturo Gutierrez 10-23-86 and is currently wanted and believed to be hiding in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

     Other Associates of Gutierrez identified as Claudia Hernandez-Lara, Francisco Cerda-Lara were arrested for assisting and taking part in the Identity Theft Ring.

     Laredo Police Department Crimes Against Property White Collar Crime Unit along with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspection Service took part in the investigation. More arrests are pending.

      The Laredo Police Department reminds the public to be cautious when receiving any telephone calls from unknown persons. Never give any identifying information when solicited over the phone and check credit reports regularly. If anyone knows where police can find Arturo Gutierrez they are asked to call police at 795-2800.