Michael Alexander Hartsell, 50, Vista, California, Patricia Ann McIntosh, 42, Vista, California, Natasha Chiara Di Lorenzo, 31, Oceanside, California and William Andrew Padworski, 47, Oceanside, California, were charged in a 187-count indictment arising out of their alleged participation in a conspiracy and an identity theft ring where they are alleged to have used a mortgage finance company, First Choice Mortgage, to steal personal information.

Between January 1, 2005 and January 31, 2007, the defendants are accused of using First Choice Mortgage, Vista, California, to access the databases of Experian Corporation, TransUnion Corporation, and Equifax Corporation. The defendants are alleged to have gained access to the credit agencies’ confidential files and stealing the personal information of more than 100 victims in Southern California counties. The victims are in the Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and San Diego counties of California. Allegedly, the defendants made numerous transactions through major retailers such as Costco, Home Depot, Kohl’s, Lowe’s, Nordstrom, and Sears, using credit card accounts they created in the names of the stolen identities. Current losses are estimated at $500,000, and the investigation is ongoing.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy, identity theft, grand theft, computer access and fraud, receiving stolen property, forgery, false personation, and other charges.

If convicted on all counts, each defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of up to 96 years. They are being held on $500,000 bail each.