Woman charged with using another's identity for 7 years

A 29-year-old McHenry County woman was behind bars Thursday, accused of using another woman's identification for more than seven years in order to obtain a job and credit.

Noelia Flores, of the 1700 block of Walnut Drive in Woodstock, faces a felony charge of identity theft alleging her actions cost the victim, also a Woodstock resident, as much as $10,000.

Her arrest ends an investigation that, according to McHenry County Sheriff's police, revealed Flores had been using the woman's identity for financial matters since February 2002.

"We were contacted by the victim after the IRS told her she owed back taxes," Cisner said. "Besides the IRS, she also was getting calls from collection agencies and credit card companies saying she owes money. It's a big mess."

Flores told investigators she purchased the victim's Social Security number from a man who approached her outside a retail establishment and has been using it ever since, Cisner said.

After her arrest, Flores was transferred to the McHenry County jail, where she remained Thursday under a hold placed on her by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The charge against her is a Class 2 felony that carries a maximum sentence of three to seven years in prison, or probation.