BOISE - Rocio Contreras-Loya, 40, of Sante Fe Springs, California, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Contreras-Loya to serve three years of supervised release, to pay $15,443.80 in restitution, and to forfeit $26,777.13 in cash proceeds of the charged offenses. Contreras-Loya pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2015.
According to the plea agreement, Contreras-Loya engaged in a retail scheme between July 2013 and July 2014, whereby she defrauded retail stores by applying for, and obtaining, credit accounts in the identities of unknowing third party victims. Contreras-Loya then used the credit accounts to fraudulently purchase merchandise and gift cards. Contreras-Loya admitted she received, from her co-defendant Arleen Cifuentes, victim identification information and false California driver's licenses in the victims' names, containing Contreras-Loya's photo. Contreras-Loya admitted that she and her co-defendants executed the scheme on at least fifteen occasions in the District of Idaho. Cifuentes and Contreras-Loya were arrested shortly after executing the scheme at the Boise Town Square Mall.
Co-defendant Arleen Cifuentes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on Jan. 27, 2015. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 27th before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. Co-defendant Ivan Fonseca remains a fugitive.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
