| For Immediate Release
July 11, 2007 |
Contact: Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486 |
HUSBAND AND WIFE CHARGED WITH
IDENTITY THEFT AND STEALING MORE THAN
$500,000 FROM WIDOWED SENIOR CITIZEN
SANTA ANA – An Escondido couple has been arrested and charged with stealing the identity of an elderly woman and defrauding her of more than $500,000 by selling unqualified and illegitimate securities. Janet Sue Reiswig, 63, and her husband Ronald Edward Reiswig, 71, are charged with felonies for one count of grand theft, three counts of the sale of securities without qualification, and three counts of the use of untrue statements in the sale of a security. Janet Reiswig is also facing felony charges for five counts of making false financial statements, two counts of forgery, and five counts of identity theft. The couple also faces sentencing enhancements and allegations for theft causing over $100,000 loss, aggravated white collar crime over $500,000, and property damage over $150,000.
The couple is being held on $1 million each and must prove the money is from a legitimate source in order to post bail. Janet Reiswig faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison if convicted, and Ronald Reiswig faces a maximum of 12 years and eight months. They are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Between November 1, 2001 and May 25, 2006, the Reiswigs are accused of fraudulently stealing $563,447 from a widowed senior citizen. They are accused of cold-calling the victim at her home, befriending her, and convincing her to buy 100,000 unqualified shares of stock in their bankrupt company, Fidelity Insured Deposits, Inc., with the false promise of high returns. They are accused of making false statements to the victim about the nature and legality of the business, and being unlicensed to make these sales. Janet Reiswig is also accused of stealing the victim’s identity and using it to obtain credit cards and lease agreements.
The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone who believes they have been a victim
of the Reiswigs should contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Bob Helvin at
(714) 347-8691.
Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.
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