HUSBAND AND WIFE CONVICTED OF STEALING IDENTITY AND MORE THAN $500,000 FROM WIDOWED SENIOR CITIZEN

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

HUSBAND AND WIFE CONVICTED OF STEALING IDENTITY AND MORE THAN $500,000 FROM
WIDOWED SENIOR CITIZEN

SANTA ANA – An Escondido couple was convicted today of stealing the identity of an elderly woman and defrauding her of more than $500,000 by selling unqualified and illegitimate securities. Janet Sue Reiswig, 64, and her husband Ronald Edward Reiswig, 72, were found guilty by a jury of three felony counts of the use of untrue statements in the sale of a security. Janet Reiswig was also convicted of two felony counts of forgery and two felony counts of identity theft. The sentencing enhancements and allegations for aggravated white collar crime over $500,000 and property damage over $150,000 were found true. Janet Reiswig faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and four months in prison and Ronald Reiswig faces a maximum of 14 years at their sentencing on May 23, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.  

Between November 1, 2001 and May 25, 2006, the Reiswigs stole $563,447 from a widowed senior citizen. They met and befriended the victim after cold-calling her at her home, and convinced the victim to invest in their company, Fidelity Insured Deposits, Inc., with the false promise of high returns when the company had no assets. They made false statements to the victim about the nature and legality of the business and were unlicensed to make these sales. Janet Reiswig also stole the victim’s identity to fraudulently obtain lease agreements.

Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.

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