Glendale Heights woman charged in elaborate identify theft scheme
A Glendale Heights woman has been charged in connection with the theft of tens of thousands of dollars through an elaborate scheme involving stealing the identities of more than two dozen victims, authorities said Thursday.
Destiney Baker, 33, of the 1500 block of Lippert Lane, is charged with 52 counts of aggravated identity theft, 12 counts of identity theft, 11 counts of continuing financial crimes enterprise, 12 counts of financial institution fraud, three counts of financial exploitation of the elderly and one count of theft.
She was taken into custody Thursday while at the DuPage County Courthouse on an unrelated case and is being held on $200,000 bail.
Authorities say Baker, a certified nursing assistant, met her victims through a staffing agency. Beginning in 2016 and continuing through February 2019, authorities say Baker stole banking information from her victims and then used that information to gain access to their bank accounts.
Authorities say Baker also opened new accounts using her victims' information.
In the process, authorities say, Baker stole tens of thousands of dollars and used the illegally gotten funds for personal expenses including airline tickets to Hawaii for herself and three children, tuition for her children at St. Matthew Parish Church, veterinary services for her dog, dental work for a relative and bills for other credit accounts.
Baker's scheme was uncovered and investigated by the DuPage County state's attorney's office. The charges allege a total of 33 victims.
"It is alleged that Ms. Baker systematically stole thousands of dollars from her victims, some of whom were elderly, to pay for vacations, private school tuition and veterinarian services for her dog, among other things," DuPage State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "If these allegations are proven to be true, her despicable actions undoubtedly caused financial hardship to her 33 victims."
Police from Glendale Heights, Aurora and Naperville assisted with the probe.