A massive bust by local law enforcement has put an alleged serial identity thief behind bars. Albert Padilla, a suspect with a history of similar crimes, was nabbed after investigators linked him to a stolen cell phone that led them down a rabbit hole of identity theft and fraud. According to a Facebook post by Constable Mark Herman from Precinct 4, Padilla sold the stolen phone to a retailer, but this was just the tip of the iceberg.

During the intense follow-up investigations that ensued, the constable's team discovered Padilla was using personal identification from various people without consent, with evidence suggesting over 30 individuals had their personal information compromised by the suspect's fraudulent activities, Padilla had already been charged with theft, Tampering with a Government Record, and Fraudulent Use/Possession of ID Information due to prior misdeeds in February 2023. After a search warrant was served at Padilla's residence in March, CID Investigators and the Special Operations Unit found a trove of personal IDs and credit cards, which led them to contact the victims who confirmed the fraud and expressed their wish for pressing charges.

In what appears to be an extensive operation of deception and theft, the suspect's past comes to light, indicating a pattern of disregard for the law; with forgery, theft, and fraud already etched into Padilla's criminal history, the latest charges add yet another layer. "Albert Padilla was charged with an additional charge of Aggregate Fraudulent Use/Possession of ID Information. His bond was set at $25,000.00 out of the 337th District Court," Constable Herman stated in a press release.