Catherine A. Demaree, Identity Theft, Indiana 2023

State: Indiana
Category: Fraud &#038; Financial Crimes
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdin/pr/career-fraudster-and-identity-thief-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

Catherine A. Demaree, a 65-year-old Indiana woman with a history of fraud and identity theft, has been sentenced to 61 months in federal prison. Demaree pleaded guilty to charges of mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in a US District Court in Indianapolis.

According to US Attorney Josh J. Minkler, Demaree ‘wreaked havoc on Hoosiers’ financial lives’ for decades, with her crimes leaving victims with devastating credit damage that can take years to repair.

Demaree’s criminal record dates back to 1978, with 22 convictions, most of them felonies and most of them for fraud, forgery, and identity theft. She has used over 30 aliases, a dozen false dates of birth, and social security numbers throughout her life to conceal her own identity.

In this case, Demaree used Social Security numbers and other identifying information from over 20 individuals in southern Indiana to apply for bank loans and over 100 credit cards. She used the cards to make cash withdrawals and personal purchases, including groceries, gas, phone bills, rental cars, hotel rooms, pizza delivery, and weekly trips to the nail salon.

Demaree exploited personal relationships with many of her victims to gain access to their personal information. She was arrested in Kansas with the checkbook, Social Security card, and Medicare card of one of her victims, an elderly woman in Missouri who had advertised online for a companion and home health assistance.

Under federal law, Demaree will serve at least 52 months of her 61-month sentence. She will be closely supervised for 3 years following her prison time.

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