(Golden, CO – September 3, 2019) A Jefferson County jury found Michael John Mancuso, III, DOB: 11-29-89, guilty of running an Identity Theft ring in Jeffco and the metro Denver area, between December 2017 and April, 2018. The jury found Mancuso guilty of 43 counts, including Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA) for engaging in a pattern of racketeering.
The jury deliberated two days following five days of trial, returning their verdicts on August 28, 2019.
Mancuso was one of eight people indicted in August, 2018 in this criminal enterprise. He and members of the enterprise illegally obtained financial and personal information of real people, including names, addresses, credit card numbers, security codes, and expiration dates. Members of the enterprise would purchase goods and services, including bicycles, jewelry, clothing, motor vehicles, gift cards, and musical equipment using information from the credit cards. Often a member of the enterprise would contact a business by telephone and tell them they wanted to purchase an item for a relative. They would then provide the credit card information over the phone. Another member of the group would pick up the pre-paid item. They would then sell the items to pawn shops or second-hand stores. Members would be paid, or promised, a fee for each item they sold.
Mancuso was found guilty of 43 counts, including:
- Violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (COCCA) (F2)
- 13 counts of ID Theft (F4)
- 7 counts of Forgery (F5)
- 2 counts of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft (F5)
- 2 counts of Theft (F5)
- Conspiracy to Commit theft and ID Theft (F5)
- 8 counts of Theft (F6)
- 5 counts of False Information to a Pawn Broker (F6)
- 4 counts Attempted Theft (F6)
There were 35 victims, including merchants and individual victims whose credit card information was stolen and used by the enterprise. There was over $38,000 in fraudulent transactions, in addition to $20,000 in thwarted attempts to use the financial information.
Mancuso’s seven codefendants were indicted and convicted based upon their participation in the enterprise:
Jacob Wyatt Westfall, DOB:2-22-98 Faith Marie Knight, DOB: 1-30-92
Matthew Paul Lane, DOB: 1-22-76 Texie Shannon Lane, DOB: 3-21-83
Dwone Daunte Extor, DOB: 5-28-96 Chelsea Juanita Dix, DOB: 11-19-93
Kristina Julie Babe, DOB: 7-28-78
Mr. Mancuso remains in custody at the Jefferson County jail. Sentencing has been set for September 30, 2019 at 3:00.
