Man accused of stealing identities from 10 cancer patients

[Lee J <lee () riskbasedsecurity com>]

http://www.wmctv.com/story/23128338/man-accused-of-stealing-identities-from-10-cancer-patients

MEMPHIS, TN -

(WMC-TV) - A Cordova man is accused of stealing the identities of hundreds
of people, some of whom are battling cancer.

Neighbors of Mareco Bell, who lives on the 7500 block of Par View Cove, say
he kept to himself.

"He was pretty quiet," said neighbor Taylor Palas. "He would mow his lawn,
but he never really came out."

Bell is now locked up at 201 Poplar after being arrested twice in the past
week.

"This is a major case of identity theft here," said Chip Washington with
the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators say Bell was running a forgery and ID theft ring from his
home. They say they found multiple state driver's licenses, dozens of
prepaid credit cards, and 500 debit cards – all with different names on
them. Plus 10 different medical documents of 10 different people all being
treated for cancer, which is how their information was stolen.

"There will probably be some other individuals implicated in this crime
with him that helped him ascertain and access this information," said
Washington.

Judge Lee Coffee set bond at $20 million. He also added a hand-written note
on the affidavit of complaint that said:

"Federal government will probably prosecute. Defendant is armed and has
made threats. Do not reduce please without a full hearing."

Investigators say they expect make more arrests. The IRS, FBI, and Secret
Service are also working this case.

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