"This defendant was one of the leaders of a large scale identity theft ring," Assistant District Attorney Tracy Conn said as a Manhattan judge ordered Dames, 33, held on $500,000 bail. Among his co-conspirators are two bank tellers, who were in love with him.
Kia Wylie, 30, who pleaded not guilty to selling the stolen identities of nine account holders to Dames, had a love letter she wrote to Dames in her desk drawer, officials said. Malika Williams, also pleaded not guilty - and her defense lawyer insisted she was a victim. "He set her up," Anthony Evans said. Dames picked up his 25-year-old client at a bar and convinced her their relationship was real, he said. "She's an overweight, shy girl who doesn't date a lot - to her he's a Casanova," he said.
Dames, who appeared in court with his underwear sticking out of his jeans, didn't deny he has a way with the ladies when he was initially arrested and asked about Williams."I know several Malikas," he told cops, according to court records. Prosecutors in Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance's office said Williams was well aware of what she was doing and that she stole the identities of 16 victims from her work computer, and that she was paid by Dames for the information.
Two male bank employee were also recruited to mine bank computers for dates of births, social security numbers and other personal data of victims. The corrupt employees also copied account holders' bank signature cards so ring members could imitate a victim's signature as they opened new accounts. Dames and two other men are charged with using the data to open credit card, eTrade accounts and make cash withdrawals. They also pickpocket victims to steal their identities, officials said.
Source : Blaxblog.ning
