Case stems for identity thefts
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – A Spokane Valley man is being held in the Spokane County Jail after being arrested for identity theft April 11 at the Kalispel Casino.
Joseph P. Simpson, 58, is facing charges of two counts of first-degree identity theft and first-degree theft.
He remains in the jail due to the bail and hold warrants issued in other jurisdictions, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office reported.
His arrest follows an investigation into two unrelated crimes, the Sheriff's Office reported. And investigators believe he may have been involved in more thefts.
According to a Sheriff's Office report, the identity theft investigation opened when someone purchased jewelry at several Western Washington locations using a Spokane Valley resident's identification.
Detective K. Scott learned someone used false identification to purchase $11,249.50 worth of jewelry.
The next day, the suspect, later identified as Simpson, returned a $6,200 item and purchased a $399 item.
Through the investigation, Scott determined someone had fraudulently accessed the victim's state Department of Licensing account and ordered a replacement ID. Using state licensing records and images taken of the suspect at the jewelry store, detectives identified Simpson as the suspect.
Detectives also linked Simpson to loan theft case, where the suspect had posed a Port Angeles resident. Using another false ID, he was able to get a $25,000 loan from a credit union and withdraw the funds, records show.
Some of the funds were withdrawn from ATMS at Northern Quest Casino in Airway Heights on March 29, records show.
The next day, detectives tracked Simpson to the nearby Kalispel Casino in Airway Heights; where tribal police detained him, records show.
Simpson then used his false ID for the second victim to identify himself, after which he was arrested, records show.
At the time of his arrest, Simpson had $7,146 on him, as well as the fraudulent ID of the second victim, records show.
Deputies also seized Simpson's vehicle, believing it, too, was purchased using someone else's name illegally, records show.
After executing a search warrant, detectives seized more than 1,000 pills believed to be fentanyl, a baggie containing a white crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine, a brown tar-like substance believed to be heroin, several cell phones, a laptop computer, camera, rifle and other items.
"This remains an active investigation, with several cases open across the state in multiple counties," the Sheriff's Office said in a media release. " Additional charges and/or arrests are possible. "
Anyone recognizing Simpson is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233 and reference Case No. 2022-10152886.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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