| For Immediate Release Case # 07CF2337
April 9, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
HUSBAND AND WIFE FACE TRIAL FOR STEALING IDENTITY AND MORE THAN $500,000 FROM
WIDOWED SENIOR CITIZEN
SANTA ANA – An Escondido couple faces trial tomorrow for 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, are charged with felonies for 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 two counts of forgery, and two 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. If convicted, Janet Reiswig faces a maximum sentence of 17 years and four months in prison and Ronald Reiswig faces a maximum of 16 years. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Between November 1, 2001 and May 25, 2006, the Reiswigs are accused of stealing $563,447 from a widowed senior citizen. They are accused of cold-calling the victim at her home, befriending her, and convincing 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 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 to fraudulently obtain lease agreements.
Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche of the Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.
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