Identity thieves plead guilty, agree to testify against accomplices - April 8, 2005

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2005-04-09

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50 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, April 8, 2005   Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery      SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries   Life   Opinion   Tempo   AP News   Weather   Classified   Archives   Site Map   SPECIAL SECTIONS   Since We Asked   Outdoor Journal   Menu Guide   How To Guide   Health   Readers' Choice   Real Estate Showcase   Real Estate Guide   Joy Magazine   Homelife Magazine   Wedding Guide   Passport to the Rogue Valley   SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad  TOP JOBS   EXTRA   Ashland News   NIE   Personals   Movie Times   TV Times   E The People   Volunteer   Moving here?  eSouthernOregon   CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 8, 2005 Identity thieves plead guilty, agree to testify against accomplices Two identity thieves who set up a multi-state check forgery operation in Medford will serve no more time in jail. Jonathan Scott Borem, 23, and Shenae Clairice Ford, 20, each pleaded guilty Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court to the charge of racketeering. Both California residents, Borem and Ford received 20-day jail sentences but have already spent that time in custody. Both agreed to testify against four others charged in the crime. Juan Luis Gomez, 26, of Rancho Cordova, Calif., and Ronald Eric Lewallen, 23, of Tacoma, Wash., remain in the Jackson County Jail. Eighteen-year-olds Vanessa Lynn Harmon, of Galt, Calif., and Candice Marie Lewis, of Auburn, Wash., were released last week on bail. Medford police on March 17 arrested the six on suspicion that they passed fake checks at local businesses over a week’s time. Merchants included the Fred Meyer store on Crater Lake Highway, Wal-Mart and Circuit City. The computer-generated checks included personal information gleaned from stolen mail and items taken from vehicles in Nevada, California and Oregon, said Medford police Lt. Tim George. The forgers created the checks at a Medford motel where they had been staying, George added. Borem will remain in jail until Placer County, Calif., officials pick him up. He is wanted there on forgery charges. Ford is wanted in Washington, said her attorney, Doug Engle. Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia ordered the two to repay merchants for all the fraudulent checks passed in Jackson County. They also are not to possess computers as a condition of their two- year probation. Mail Tribune Home  | Local News  | Sports  | Business  | Obituaries  | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives  |  Site Map  | Community  | Classified   Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Fasa Advertisement s