WARREN (WWJ) – Three women are facing felony charges for allegedly conducting a "high value identity theft ring" targeting Metro Detroit residents’ cell phone accounts and using their data to set up accounts for rideshare and food delivery services.
Breanna Johnson, of Pinconning, Samantha Parker of Westland and Danielle Courtney of Westland have all been charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony. Warren police officials say they’re also facing other felony charges related to identity theft, which were not disclosed.
The Warren Police Department’s Fraud Unit launched an in-depth investigation last October after identifying at least 14 incidents of identity theft using the same methods. Nine of those incidents were in Warren, while the other five were from unspecified cities.
Investigators say Johnson, Parker and Courtney were able to compromise the victims’ cell phone accounts to gather personal information.
They would then use that data to take over the victims’ personal accounts and create fraudulent accounts including food delivery services, bank accounts, and ride share services, according to Warren police officials.
In total, the suspects allegedly obtained over $1 million from their victims, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office and Warren Police Department are still investigating the case.
Courtney, 51, was arrested on Wednesday and issued a $200,000 bond.
Johnson, 25, was arrested in April and issued a $10,000 or 10% bond. Parker, 32, was arrested in February and issued a $100,000 bond.
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