Stolen car's OnStar leads to bust of ID theft ring with more than 1,800 victims

From left: Xavier Stephens, 27, Chrystie Hall, 36, and Bridgett Bennifield, 38, were arrested in connection with an identity theft ring that has more than 1,800 victims.

ORLANDO -- A stolen vehicle's OnStar technology helped Orlando police dismantle an identity theft ring that has already claimed more than 1,800 victims, authorities said Monday.

An 85-year-old man called Orlando police last week to report his credit card was fraudulently used by someone using the name Chrystie Hall to rent a vehicle from Thrifty Car Rental, which is located at the Orlando International Airport.

The man's card was charged about $4,000, a release states.

Orlando police investigators confirmed the vehicle was fraudulently rented, reported it stolen and then used the vehicle's OnStar, which placed it at Robinson Street and Magnolia Avenue in downtown Orlando.

Police located the vehicle and two suspects: Xavier Stephens, 27, and Bridgett Bennifield, 38.

Stephens had a backpack with numerous credit card documents inside. Bennifield had a purse with numerous credit cards in it.

According to police, the documents appeared to be reservations for travel and included arrival dates, lengths of stay, hotel information, names of guests, dates of birth and full credit card information with the expiration date and security numbers.

Stephens was in possession of 1,787 reservation documents and Bennifield had 68 reservation documents, police said. Continue reading at MyNews13....


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