Secretary accused of identity theft

BY ROB SEAL
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE Mar 17, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE — A former secretary accused of using a lawyer’s identity to rack up more than $145,000 in fraudulent purchases and cash was arrested Thursday on federal identity theft charges.

Authorities allege that 27-year-old Paula Jean Hufner used a computer to open two credit accounts in the name of the Louisa County attorney and to later raid his personal bank account.

The credit accounts were used to purchase several items over 18 months, including a four-wheeler, a boat and a boat trailer.

The lawyer was a partner at Acme Law Firm, where Hufner was a secretary, according to the indictment.

On Sept. 26, 2004, an American Express card was opened in the lawyer’s name. About two weeks later, an MBNA America credit card account also was created in his name.

Investigators say Hufner used her access to the partner’s Social Security number, name and birth date to open the accounts, and added herself as a cardholder.

Both applications were filled out online, according to the federal indictment. Several checks drawing on the MBNA account also were sent to Hufner, the indictment says.

For the next year and a half, the combined balances of the two credit accounts climbed to more than $63,000.

“It went all the way to April of 2006,” said U.S. Attorney John Brownlee, whose office is prosecuting the case.

Investigators say Hufner also used the computer to dip into the lawyer’s private bank account, moving more than $80,000 of his funds between September 2005 and April 2006.

Some of the money went to pay down balances on the cards opened in his name, according to the indictment.

“The victim contacted authorities,” Brownlee said. “We began an investigation and were able to discover the information that led to these indictments.”

Hufner is charged with identity theft, access device fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and mail fraud. Authorities also are seeking to reclaim about $145,000 in cash, the four-wheeler, boat and boat trailer.

She was indicted Wednesday and arrested Thursday, said Heidi Coy, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Hufner appeared before a federal judge Thursday and was granted a $20,000 bond.

Brownlee said identity theft has become much more common in recent years, as technology and online banking have become more prevalent.

“In 2000 we did about 35 of these cases. In 2005 we did almost 80,” he said. “This case is an example of our efforts to try and go after folks who steal people’s identities and conduct these types of crimes.”

Rob Seal is a staff writer at The Daily Progress in Charlottesville.
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