W. Chicago man accused of stealing 11-year-old's ID

A West Chicago man Tuesday was accused of stealing an 11-year-old girl's Social Security number nine years ago and using it to buy a house and get a job, among other things, police said.

Police caught the theft when the victim, now 20, tried to collect Social Security benefits and get a cell phone.

Ambrosio DeJesus-Flores, 39, of 133 W. Blair St., was charged with felony identity theft, an offense that could land him in prison for four to 15 years if he is convicted.

During the past nine years, police said, DeJesus-Flores used the Social Security number to secure a $149,000 mortgage on his home, to maintain employment, to receive cellular telephone service, to obtain credit and to register two vehicles.

DeJesus-Flores bought the Social Security number for about $200 nine years ago in Chicago, police said.

The victim, who lives in Carpentersville, learned of the theft recently when she tried to collect benefits from the Social Security Administration and was told she shared the same number as DeJesus-Flores, police said.

She also attempted to open up a cellular phone account and was told someone already started one using her Social Security number.

DeJesus-Flores was being held in the Kane County jail on $15,000 bond with a Jan. 24 court date at the Kane County Judicial Center.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement also put a hold on DeJesus-Flores.