Woman In Federal Custody in Identity Theft Case

A West Chicago woman is in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after her arrest in the use of a Colorado woman’s Social Security number, police said.

Isabel Lopez, 42, of the 700 block of West Brown Street, West Chicago, was arrested Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at her place of employment in the 3600 block of Swenson Avenue in St. Charles on one count of aggravated identity theft, a Class 1 felony.

According to police, a 65-year-old Lakewood, Colo., resident reported to police there that someone in St. Charles, Ill., was using her Social Security number. Lakewood police traced the use of the number to a St. Charles business address and then contacted St. Charles police.

St. Charles police arrested Lopez at her place of employment, and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office authorized charges against her. Lopez posted $5,000 cash bond, but she then was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Unrelated Identity Theft Reported

In an unrelated incident, a 71-year-old resident of the 500 block of South 15th Street reported at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, that someone had used his wife’s information to withdraw $4,000 from two checking accounts.

The man told police his wife’s purse had been stolen earlier this year in Chicago, and that they had notified the appropriate credit agencies, according to the report. But on Oct. 17, while reviewing their checking accounts, they discovered the theft. The bank, Harris Bank of Milwaukee, told the victim someone bearing his wife’s Illinois driver’s license had signed her name while making the withdrawals. The bank wanted a copy of a police report on the matter. The victims were credited for their loss and Harris Bank is conducting its own investigation.