Police: Ga. Women Steal Military Roster, Commit ID Theft

DeKalb County police officials said they have busted an organized identify theft ring that targeted members of the U.S. Air Force. Detectives arrested two women in connection with the crime and have secured warrants on three additional suspects.

Detectives believe that in 2007, the group gained access to the secured member roster of the 80th Aerial Port Squadron based out of Dobbins Air Force Base. Since that time, more than 20 airmen in the unit have fallen victim to identify theft.

During the investigation detectives determined that the suspects used personal information from the roster, such as dates of births, addresses and Social Security numbers to open online bank accounts. Detectives said the suspects then made false deposits on these accounts and overdrew large sums of money.

ID Theft Suspects

Detectives believe these fraudulent accounts were opened at Washington Mutual locations in DeKalb, Fulton, Douglas and Cobb counties.

More than $50,000 is estimated to have been taken, police said.

Stacey Walker, 28, and Kenyata Willis, who is said to be in her mid-20s, were arrested.

Warrants have been signed for Dianne Walker, 54, and Ebony Walker, 27. Police said warrants are pending against Taneshia Walker, who is in her mid-20s.

A representative for Dobbins Air Reserve Base said the base "takes great care to prevent its Reservists and DOD civilians from becoming victims."

The representative said current military identification cards called Common Access Cards no longer contain Social Security numbers written on the outside. Instead, the information is stored electronically on the card. Documents containing private information are required to be locked away in files or shredded when they are obsolete.

Officials said the bust was a joint investigation that began in early 2009 involving the DeKalb County Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The investigation is still ongoing.

Anyone who has information in this case should call the DeKalb County Police Department’s Fraud Unit at 770-724-7700.