Woman gets prison for identity theft at medical clinic
A 33-year-old Columbia Falls woman has been sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay more than $18,700 in restitution for her role in an identity theft case.
Andrea Mackowiak, who earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula.
Prosecutors say Mackowiak took names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth from patient account records at a clinic and gave the information to a person in Washington state. That person used the information to set up Qwest telephone accounts that were used by prison inmates. Court records say that from August through December 2006, inmates used the accounts to obtain phone services from Qwest without paying.
Identity thieves can do virtually everything once they get hold of your personal accounts and information. However, most of those who venture out in this kind of money making scheme are not aware that identity theft is strictly punishable by law depending on the state’s laws regarding this crime. There are so many other ways to earn just like getting a decent job. Taking advantage of other people’s vital information is never the best option.
Thats my mom 🙂
I wouldn’t be announcing that was my mom if she did something like this…It’s very wrong and I would be very embarrassed.