Over $787,000 in loans, two vehicles, and a job illegally obtained using one SSN.

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew P Thomas’ Office announced that Adan Guerrero, 37, has plead guilty to Taking Identity of Another, a class two felony, and one count of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, a class four felony.

Adan Betancio Guerrero

Guerrero used the stolen SSN to purchase the two cars on credit beginning in 2001. Thus, Guerrero’s crime spree has been going on undetected for at least seven years. That Guerrero’s actions went undetected for so long clearly demonstrates inadequate safeguards in both the credit and government fraud detection systems.

Guerrero was caught purely through luck. While applying for a $33,000 vehicle loan at a local credit union, a worker there noticed that another customer had the same SSN. A call to the victim confirmed identity theft which was followed by a call to the police.

Guerrero told police at the time of his arrest that they should be arresting real criminals and not a good family.

Guerrero is clearly a “real criminal.”

“Identity theft is a personal violation that damages individuals on many different levels,” Thomas said. “I’m pleased that this offender will do prison time for his offenses.”

On February 11, 2009, Judge Helene Abrams will sentence the defendant to no less than 2.5 years in the Department of Corrections and probation. Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Valadez is prosecuting the case.