Feds: Iowa woman schemed grandpa to buy yoga pants, lingerie
June 1, 2016 by admin
Filed under Latest Lingerie News
An Iowa woman faces federal criminal charges after she reportedly obtained credit cards under her grandfather’s name to spend money on a Victoria’s Secret shopping spree and other purchases.
The scheme unfolded after Jessica Lynn Roloson moved with her husband into a Central City house where her grandfather, who was born in 1923, had lived with his wife until May 2011. Roloson continued receiving some of her grandfather’s mail, and began responding to solicitations to open credit card accounts using his name and Social Security number, according to a grand jury indictment filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Roloson used the fraudulent credit cards for shopping online and in stores, including $205.95 in purchases at a Cedar Rapids Victoria’s Secret store in November using an American Express credit card. Roloson used the card to buy yoga pants, a Pink knit top and a “Bombshell Push Up brassier,” according to the indictment.
Neither Roloson’s grandfather nor his wife gave her permission to open new lines of credit in his name, the indictment said. Roloson would sometimes request secondary cards under names such as “Jlynn Roloson,” misleading the credit card companies by claiming the cards were for additional authorized users.
The indictment charges Roloson with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In addition to the charges, prosecutors are seeking to use criminal forfeiture law to seize several items that could have been bought using proceeds from the alleged fraud, including: a white-and-grey Siberian Husky puppy, a pink selfie stick, two iPad tablets, a Frigidaire brand stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher, and four Goodyear all-season tires.
Prosecutors are also seeking to forfeit two Dallas Cowboys zip-up jackets from Roloson, as well as two iPhones and cases emblazoned with the professional football team’s logo.
Roloson pleaded not guilty to both charges during an arraignment and initial appearance on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids. An attorney in the federal public defender’s office appointed to represent Roloson had no comment on the case.
In 2015, California firm True Link Financial released research finding that elder financial abuse costs senior citizens in the U.S. $36.48 billion each year, including $2.9 billion in losses due to identity theft.
