DA: RVC Woman Used Craigslist to Commit Hundreds of Identity Thefts

A Rockville Centre woman allegedly used fake Craigslist ads for nonexistent jobs and apartments to steal steal hundreds of identities nationwide and filed hundreds of fraudulent tax returns, according to the Nassau County District Attorney's office.

Tuesday's indictment charges Susan Pemberton, 42, of Rockville Centre, with second-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud, and Cynthia Sibert, 22, of Roslyn, with third-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud.

According to the DA's office, Pemberton and Sibert requested more than $500,000 in state income tax refunds, which raised flags at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. They also used the stolen identities to apply for bank loans and credit cards, and stole a total of more than $75,000.

“These scammers preyed on the elderly and people who were looking for honest work and affordable housing, and then stole money from the pockets of every taxpayer,” Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice said.

Throughout the nearly two-year long scam, the women placed ads on Craigslist for employment opportunities and apartment rentals that didn’t exist. They sent their victims employment and rental applications that sought personal information and used that data to file more than 250 fraudulent tax returns, and to obtain bank loans and credit cards in their victims’ names. Sibert also used her job as a home health care aide to steal the identities of elderly people in her care and opened credit cards in their names.

Pemberton was arrested Nov. 16, 2011 and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. The arrests are the result of a joint investigation between the DA’s Office and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance’s Criminal Investigation Division – Buffalo Office. The investigation was assisted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The investigation is ongoing and more charges could be filed against the defendants.