October 5, 2007
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer 

DEBARY WOMAN ARRESTED IN WIDESPREAD IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME 

One person was arrested Friday morning when the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office raided a home in an upscale DeBary neighborhood following a two-week investigation into a widespread identity theft scheme. So far, Sheriff’s investigators have located 15 victims from across the country and as far away as England and Canada. But investigators say that could be just the tip of the iceberg. Before being contacted by the Sheriff’s Office, hardly any of the victims knew that their identities had been ripped off.   

     
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The investigation was initiated in Rogersville, MO, more than 1,000 miles from DeBary. That’s where the first victim noticed unauthorized charges on two of his credit cards, for items ranging from computer software and baby clothes to fudge and crystal figurines. The victim did a little investigating of his own and discovered that the property bought with his credit cards had been shipped to two locations in Volusia County -- a UPS store in Orange City and a home in the Glen Abbey subdivision in DeBary. A few phone calls later, and the victim was on the line with Sergeant Virgil Ford, head of the Sheriff’s Office’s investigative section in DeBary. The date was Sept. 19, and the investigation immediately kicked into high gear. Through subpoenas and other investigative techniques, the Sheriff’s Office was able to obtain the name of the person picking up shipments at the UPS store. Investigators also were able to track down dozens of Internet-based companies that have shipped out orders placed by the suspects using fraudulently obtained credit card information. Sources told deputies that the suspects picked up packages at the UPS store in Orange City nearly every day -- including 34 packages during a recent two-week period. 

In just two weeks, Sheriff’s investigators have tracked down victims all across the country, including New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Oregon, Georgia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Florida. They also have identified two victims in Ontario and two more in England. Investigators speculate that one reason the suspects had initially escaped attention was the fact that they apparently didn’t buy any big-ticket items. Instead, they allegedly bought a potpourri of small ticket, mostly personal items, such as shoes, pre-natal vitamins, children’s clothes, books and toys. After surveilling the suspects and secretly watching them pick up packages from the UPS store on two different occasions, investigators began documenting the complicated scheme in an affidavit that was presented to a judge earlier this week. The affidavit was enough to convince the judge to issue a warrant authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to search the suspects’ rented home at 117 Glen Abbey Lane. During interviews with investigators, the suspects admitted operating an Internet-based business and using some of their customers’ credit card information to make fraudulent online purchases. 

Arrested on Friday was 38-year-old Alexandra Jacobs, who was charged with grand theft, scheme to defraud, fraudulent use of credit cards and 12 counts of criminal use of personal identification. A second suspect, who also lives at the home, 35-year-old Alicia O’Hara, remains under investigation, and additional charges are expected. Thus far in the investigation, there is no evidence that anyone else was involved in the scheme. In addition to fraudulently obtained property bought over the Internet, investigators seized personal computers during Friday’s search and are hopeful the computers will help them track down more victims and purchases. In addition to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, other agencies assisting in Friday’s search included the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Service. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the search because one of the victims lives in Eustis.