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61 °F Forecast | Road Cams Saturday, October 9, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend October 8, 2004 Californian indicted for theft, forgery Anthony Rusciano also has been charged with racketeering in what police call a long-running example of identity theft By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune A California man faces numerous theft and forgery charges following a Medford arrest that police say ended a nearly decade-long crime spree. Anthony Thomas Rusciano, 31, was indicted Thursday on a charge of racketeering, eight counts of first-degree forgery and four counts of identity theft. Officers arrested Rusciano Sept. 9 inside the Medford Center office of the Driver & Motor Vehicle Services division where he attempted to renew one of his eight Oregon identification cards issued under false names, said Rachel Bridges, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. Rusciano has never lived in Oregon. Rusciano used false identities to open bank accounts with little or no funds in other states, said Medford police Detective Tony Young. He then papered an area with bad checks, buying items for his personal use and resale, Young said. Investigators said they believe Rusciano sold high-end espresso makers bought with bad checks on e-Bay. "This was his income, basically," Young said. Detectives recovered at least 13,000 bad checks that can be traced to Rusciano, Young said. However, police said they have no evidence that he opened bank accounts in Oregon. Using forged birth certificates or rent receipts, Rusciano also obtained fraudulent pieces of identification in Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New York, Indiana and Arizona, police said. Advertisement Wanted in Arizona for fraud, Rusciano had managed to evade police since 1996. But face-recognition technology at Colorado’s DMV led U.S. Secret Service agents to their quarry, Young said. The agency ordered Rusciano’s photo flagged at Oregon and Washington DMV offices. The alert prompted employees at the Medford DMV office to call police, Young added. Investigators said they know Rusciano frequently moved around the country but most recently lived in the San Francisco area. He has remained in the Jackson County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Prosecutors also charged a 22-year-old California man in the case. Ludwin Azael Bonilla has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to commit first-degree theft and possessing false identification. Bonilla brought Rusciano to Medford but left town when he was arrested, Young said. Detectives apprehended the San Rafael, Calif., man on Sept. 19 when he came to visit Rusciano in jail. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities