NY woman pleads guilty to participating in $2.1M identity theft ring involving Bernanke’s wife
By APThursday, September 3, 2009
4th person pleads guilty in national ID theft ring
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A fourth person has pleaded guilty in a $2.1 million identity theft ring in which Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s wife was a victim.
Federal prosecutors say 46-year-old Claire Barker of Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiring to commit bank fraud in the nationwide scheme that involved at least 10 financial institutions.
Authorities say Barker admitted using fake IDs and stolen bank information to impersonate victims and cash illegal checks, draining their bank accounts.
Barker faces a maximum of 30 years in prison at sentencing Dec. 4. Two men and another woman earlier pleaded guilty.
Authorities say the victims included Anna Bernanke, whose purse was stolen outside a Capitol Hill coffee shop in August 2008.
