Officials highlight meth crimes

If Marla Smith can find room to sit down in her one-room Spokane apartment, she turns on her 13-inch television.

The 21-year-old Spokane woman can’t use credit to buy furniture or even a computer to continue her education. Her credit rating has been shot ever since someone broke into her car Jan. 11 and stole her Social Security card, old checkbook and a check written by her mother that Smith hadn’t cashed.

In just two days, the thief wrote 14 fraudulent checks totaling $2,040. Another $3,000 was stolen through checks written in her mother’s name, Smith said.

The suspect who used Smith’s identity was part of a methamphetamine ring, Spokane Police detective Stacey Carr said.

“They had people breaking into cars, mail boxes, going through trash,” said Carr, who did not identify the suspect. “And the lady who stole Marla’s identity was dining on lobster tail and buying some pretty nice clothing and perfume while Marla was trying to buy a computer. They are all confirmed meth addicts.”

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., joined with Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk and others Monday to announce a new effort to explore the link between identity theft and methamphetamine abuse.

Last year, all 27 major identity theft cases brought to court in Spokane County included suspects who abused methamphetamine, Sterk said.

Of all felony property crimes brought by the Property Crimes Task Force, some 93 percent were linked to people stealing to support their meth habits. Sterk estimated that meth is linked to about 75 percent to 80 percent of all property crimes across the state.

“I think we have complained loud enough and long enough now to our representatives and our senators that they are listening to us,” Sterk said. “They know that this isn’t a just a day or two problem. It’s not going away.”

Cantwell agreed, saying that identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the country. While meth use is growing, it’s considered a major problem in about 15 states, she said.

“What we want to show Americans is that they are connected and we must fight it with vigilance,” Cantwell said. “It’s not just identity theft if it’s stealing resources to participate in drug rings. We can’t let these two crimes continue to grow in America.”

Cantwell said progress was made last year with a new law that makes it easier for people like Marla Smith to regain their good credit. Cantwell said she intends to submit a bill next week, calling for a study of the link between meth and identity theft. She hopes that will lead to more money for fighting the crimes and stiffer penalties for identity thieves.

“We need to make sure that Americans and law enforcement understand the tools that are necessary to battle these crimes together,” Cantwell said.

Marcia Via, with the Spokane County Meth Action Team, said communities need federal help.

“We know through our financial institutions, our retailers, our law enforcement that across the state that hands-down, meth is driving this problem,” Via said. “It is not just a law enforcement problem. It is a community problem.”

John Lothspeich, who sits on the executive council of the Washington State AARP, said his organization recently completed a survey in which 82 percent of Washington residents polled said they strongly support stiffer penalties for identity thieves.

“We are particularly concerned about older citizens,” Lothspeich said. “Anyone who has a credit card, identification of any kind – it can be stolen. It doesn’t matter if you are 18 or 98.”