Prosecutors say 16 people have been indicted in a North Texas identity theft and fraud scheme blamed for more than $1.3 million in bank losses.
Details were announced Thursday on the 76-count federal indictment returned last month in Sherman. The defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in a ring that also operated in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The suspects allegedly broke into vehicles at public locations to steal purses, wallets, checks and other identity information. Prosecutors say some suspects wore wigs and other disguises while cashing stolen checks via bank drive-thru lanes.
Rental cars were part of the scam in which the swiped checks were made out to other suspects and cashed. Stolen Texas license plates were put on the vehicles.
