Eagan man gets five years in Craigslist identity theft scheme
An Eagan man has been sentenced in federal court to five years in prison for a scheme in which he and a female accomplice advertised for sex partners on Craigslist in order to steal their identities.
Twenty-six-year-old Eric Christopher Thorsen was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty last September to charges of identity theft and conspiracy. His accomplice, 31-year-old Amy Ruth Bergquist of Eagan, was sentenced in February to three and a half years in prison.
Thorsen and Bergquist admitted to using Craigslist to arrange meetings with people at hotels or homes to engage in sex acts. During the meetings, they would distract the victims in order to steal identification documents, checks and bank records, then used them to buy things including prescription drugs. They admitted to stealing in all between $30,000 and $120,000.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.