Susan Shaw (KTLA-TV) |
MANHATTAN BEACH -- A former Hawaiian beauty queen, with a husband and two young children in the islands, is accused of stealing the identities of more than 11 people and leading a double life in Southern Calfiornia.
Susan Shaw, 35, was indicted by a Hawaii grand jury May 12 on 122 counts, including identity and credit card theft, forgery and money laundering.
She was arrested May 7 as she arrived at the Honolulu airport from Los Angeles. Honolulu police are asking the court to have her $1 million bail possibility revoked.
Shaw was said to have been carrying several designer bags and high-priced clothing at the time of her arrest -- many with the tags still attached.
The former Miss Hawaii International 1992 allegedly stole hundreds of credit cards and fraudulently obtained credit reports, gift cards and other documents which were found inside a rental home in the 300 block of 11th Street in Manhattan Beach, according to investigators.
Manhattan Beach police Detective Joe Aiello said the the reports and documents included Social Security numbers, addresses and birthdays of victims and potential victims.
Aiello said all the items have been turned over to the Honolulu Police Department.
A man who claimed to be Shaw's boyfriend told police that she lived in the home and that he had no idea she was married with children until he saw news reports.
Shaw is accused of stealing some $160,000 over more than a one-year period, and police say the total is likely to increase as more alleged victims are discovered.
Manhattan Beach police said they have uncovered evidence that could lead to more charges against Shaw, representing an additional 25 or more victims.
The victims contacted police after discovering that their mail, like bank statements and credit card applications, was being held or re-routed without their authorization, according to Honolulu Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Van Marter.
Then, credit cards were opened in their names.
Van Marter said it was difficult to track Shaw down because she would apply for credit cards online almost always from an Internet address that went to a public spot, like Starbucks.
The credit cards would be sent to various addresses - usually residences with mailboxes at the end of long driveways that Shaw could access without detection, according to Van Marter.
Detectives in Hawaii received a tip about where a credit card would be delivered, and put the mailbox under surveillance on May 8, 2008.
They saw a woman drive up, pull mail out of the box and replace it, Van Marter said. Police followed her and pulled her over for a traffic violation, which allowed them to obtain her information.
Her husband and other family members and friends said they could never figure out why Shaw traveled so much or where she got the money for designer clothes and handbags, Van Marter said.
Shaw's family is said to be cooperating with the investigation.
During the year that she was under police surveillance, Van Marter says, Shaw traveled to the states and back some 60 times.
Van Marter said he will seek life in prison for Shaw, whose criminal history includes a 1994 theft conviction.
Susan Shaw, 35, was indicted by a Hawaii grand jury May 12 on 122 counts, including identity and credit card theft, forgery and money laundering.
She was arrested May 7 as she arrived at the Honolulu airport from Los Angeles. Honolulu police are asking the court to have her $1 million bail possibility revoked.
Shaw was said to have been carrying several designer bags and high-priced clothing at the time of her arrest -- many with the tags still attached.
The former Miss Hawaii International 1992 allegedly stole hundreds of credit cards and fraudulently obtained credit reports, gift cards and other documents which were found inside a rental home in the 300 block of 11th Street in Manhattan Beach, according to investigators.
Manhattan Beach police Detective Joe Aiello said the the reports and documents included Social Security numbers, addresses and birthdays of victims and potential victims.
Aiello said all the items have been turned over to the Honolulu Police Department.
A man who claimed to be Shaw's boyfriend told police that she lived in the home and that he had no idea she was married with children until he saw news reports.
Shaw is accused of stealing some $160,000 over more than a one-year period, and police say the total is likely to increase as more alleged victims are discovered.
Manhattan Beach police said they have uncovered evidence that could lead to more charges against Shaw, representing an additional 25 or more victims.
The victims contacted police after discovering that their mail, like bank statements and credit card applications, was being held or re-routed without their authorization, according to Honolulu Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Van Marter.
Then, credit cards were opened in their names.
Van Marter said it was difficult to track Shaw down because she would apply for credit cards online almost always from an Internet address that went to a public spot, like Starbucks.
The credit cards would be sent to various addresses - usually residences with mailboxes at the end of long driveways that Shaw could access without detection, according to Van Marter.
Detectives in Hawaii received a tip about where a credit card would be delivered, and put the mailbox under surveillance on May 8, 2008.
They saw a woman drive up, pull mail out of the box and replace it, Van Marter said. Police followed her and pulled her over for a traffic violation, which allowed them to obtain her information.
Her husband and other family members and friends said they could never figure out why Shaw traveled so much or where she got the money for designer clothes and handbags, Van Marter said.
Shaw's family is said to be cooperating with the investigation.
During the year that she was under police surveillance, Van Marter says, Shaw traveled to the states and back some 60 times.
Van Marter said he will seek life in prison for Shaw, whose criminal history includes a 1994 theft conviction.
