False Name In Mexico Led To Arrest Ex-License Supervisor Deported; Credit Victim’s Attorney Delighted

Nan Farwell’s propensity for using fake names got her into trouble again, authorities said.

The former Spokane resident was deported from Mexico on Wednesday after officials there discovered she was living under an assumed name, which is illegal in that country.

U.S. agents met the 47-year-old Farwell at the border near San Diego and arrested her on federal and Spokane County warrants charging her with fraud and being a fugitive.

Farwell is being held at the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility in San Diego awaiting extradition to Spokane.

She faces 27 criminal counts and a $500,000 civil judgment when she returns to Eastern Washington.

“We’ve just been waiting for her to get back,” said Spokane attorney Russell Van Camp, who represents a woman victimized by Farwell in 1992.

The former supervisor for the state Department of Licensing’s Spokane Valley office is accused of using her position to create phony driver’s licenses.

Authorities say she used the licenses, which contained her picture but other people’s names, to obtain credit and write bogus checks at department and jewelry stores around town.

Farwell racked up bills totaling more than $23,000, authorities said.

She was arrested in February 1992 after employees at a north Spokane jewelry store became suspicious and notified police.

Farwell went on the lam in October 1992 as her fraud trial was about to begin in Spokane County Superior Court.

She apparently went to Mexico, where she worked as a baby sitter and translator in a small town near Mexico City, sources said Friday.

Federal agents received a tip about Farwell’s whereabouts after a story about the case appeared on the television show “America’s Most Wanted: Final Justice.”

A woman who claims to have attended college with Farwell in Mexico called Spokane detectives after watching the show, according to “America’s Most Wanted.”

Farwell apparently was using the alias Nan Camp while living in Mexico. Under Mexican law, visitors to the country are not allowed to use assumed names.

Spokane police notified the FBI, which got in touch with Mexican officials. On Wednesday, Farwell was deported to the United States, the press release said.

Van Camp said Friday that his client, Diane Perry, was elated at the news. The woman’s life was turned upside down by Farwell, the attorney said.

Perry was arrested and later lost her job after Farwell established a bank account in Perry’s name and bounced $14,000 in checks, Van Camp said.

Charges against Perry were dropped when authorities found out about Farwell, but the former financial broker at Murphy Favre Investment Securities left Spokane in shame and has suffered credit problems ever since.

“Once you get on the National Credit Bureau line as a liar, cheat and thief, it’s nearly impossible to get it cleared up,” Van Camp said. “She’s still having to deal with this.”

In October 1993, a judge ordered Farwell to pay Perry $500,000 in civil damages. With Farwell in Mexico, there was no way for Perry to begin collecting.

That changed Wednesday.

“We’re exceptionally pleased that they got old Nan,” said Van Camp, who plans to start legal action to seize any assets Farwell has in Mexico. “She just ruined Diane’s life for years. What a twit.”.

, DataTimes