Woman admits identity theft, forgery

A Zion woman was placed on 30 months probation Monday after she admitted using the financial information and a check of a Lincolnshire woman to finance a shopping spree.

Latoya Price, 22, pleaded guilty to financial identity theft and forgery during a hearing before Associate Judge George Bridges.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Price, of 3005 Gilboa Ave., spent about $5,400 between July 1 and July 18 using the woman's information.

Price obtained a credit card in the woman's name and used it to buy electronic equipment, including a 52-inch television set, that she had shipped to an address in Waukegan.

On July 5, Stanton said, Price and Carlton Wallace, 21, took one of the woman's checks to a Wal-Mart in Zion and exchanged it for $490 worth of merchandise.

Police became aware of Price's activity when she applied for a second credit card, was rejected and officials from that company traced the application to her computer.

Stanton said police were able to recover the bulk of the merchandise purchased when they served search warrants on Price's residence and the Waukegan address where much of it was shipped.

Price told police she obtained the woman's financial information and the check from "some guy on the street" who she could not identify.

Wallace, of 627 8th St. in Waukegan, has pleaded not guilty to forgery and is scheduled to appear in court again Dec. 22.

Bridges also ordered Price to turn over her computer to police and to perform 200 hours of community service.

Stanton said Price faced up to seven years in prison if she had been convicted after a trial.