Lechtenberg, 7 Others Charged in $143K Identity Theft Scheme

Danny Lechtenberg, 36, of Taylorsville, and seven others face a 56-count federal indictment over a sprawling identity theft operation that leveraged the personal data of more than 143,000 individuals—nearly one in every 20 Utah residents. The scheme, allegedly orchestrated by Lechtenberg and his co-defendants, used stolen identities to create fake IDs and open fraudulent store credit accounts across Salt Lake County.

The stolen data included full names and personal identifying information, likely sourced from a medical insurance provider—or a third-party vendor—more than five years ago, according to investigators. While the exact breach remains unidentified, the structure of the database points to a long-dormant but massive exposure of sensitive consumer data, now weaponized for financial fraud.

Charged alongside Lechtenberg are Jesse Ryan Bell, 30; Christopher Wayne Cummings, 33; Jody Ray Bledsoe, 44; Christopher Winterton, 35—all of Taylorsville; Carolina Cueller Morton, 53, and Donald Leslie Peck, 51, both of Salt Lake City; and Tina Marie Schilling, 57, of West Valley City. Each faces at least one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, with multiple counts of aggravated identity theft and use of unauthorized access devices.

Lechtenberg is singled out in the indictment with additional charges: six counts of bank fraud, possession of five or more fraudulent documents, unauthorized use of access devices, aggravated identity theft, and even unlawful manufacture of marijuana. The inclusion of drug charges adds a dangerous wrinkle to what is already one of Utah’s largest identity theft prosecutions in recent memory.

Arrests began Feb. 3, 2017, after a sealed indictment was unsealed. Lechtenberg, Bell, Cummings, Morton, and Winterton made initial appearances that day. Lechtenberg, Cummings, and Winterton remain in custody, while Bell and Morton were released under strict conditions after being deemed flight risks and threats to public safety. Bledsoe, Peck, and Schilling are scheduled to appear Feb. 28, having been issued summonses.

Despite the staggering number of identities in the database, prosecutors say only a fraction were actively exploited. Victims whose identities were used have been notified. The investigation is ongoing, led by the Unified Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Utah Identity Theft Task Force, with prosecution handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Salt Lake City.