Two Milwaukee residents have been arrested and charged with identity theft for trying to obtain a replacement debit card from a Round Lake victim without the cardholder’s authorization, police officials said.
Round Lake Police Chief David Prus said police were called after an unknown individual had ordered a replacement debit card that was tied to the victim’s bank account.
Detectives collaborated with a local bank and the card delivery service to track the package, Prus said, then conducted a surveillance operation in the 1900 block of Greenleaf Court in Round Lake on May 31 at 11:30 a.m. after the package was delivered.
A short time after the package was delivered, police observed two individuals arrive in the area driving a black Mazda rental vehicle, Prus said
Prus said one person exited the vehicle and removed the package from the victim’s front porch.
Prus said detectives and officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and subsequently arrested Damion Payne, 30, and Jonica Cateriano, 55, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for taking the package containing the replacement card.
Following a review by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Payne and Cateriano were each charged with three counts of Identity Theft, one count of Theft, and one count of Obstruction of Justice.
Court records show the charges of Identity Theft are Class 3 felonies, while the Theft charge is a Class 4 felony, and the count of Obstruction of Justice is a Class A misdemeanor.
Payne and Cateriano were transported to Lake County jail and appeared in First Appearance court on June 1.
The two were released pending a June 25 court date.