CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. -
The $1-billion credit union spells out its intention with a new multi-media marketing campaign with the tagline, "Someone to stand beside you, someone to guide you: Navigant Credit union. Enjoy Life's Journey."
ID Thiefs Trip Down 'Felony Lane'
MIAMI-Six members of a sophisticated identity theft ring that siphoned millions of dollars from credit unions and bank accounts were sentenced to prison as part of a five-year federal investigation known as "Operation Felony Lane."
The defendants, along with three accomplices who have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, operated a "cash and grab" scheme in which they stole purses and wallets then used the identities of their victims to manufacture phony IDs.
The victims included members of Merck, Sharp and Dohme FCU, BrightStar CU, Tropical FCU, Keys FCU, as well as customers of Wachovia, Bank of America, Union Planters Bank, Capital One, SunTrust and Washington Mutual.
Investigators call the ring "Felony Lane" because the fraudsters use the farthest lane in a credit union or bank drive-thru-because of they are the farthest from security cameras and tellers-to cash phony checks. The ring also opened new card accounts on the unknowing victims, then used the cards to charge millions in purchases.
The thieves obtained the identities by first stealing purses and wallets in public places. One of the places targeted was a local hospital, which the thieves infiltrated by impersonating patients in wheel chairs.
