Couple charged in
identity-theft spree

A video store owner is accused of
shopping on fraudulent accounts

A Honolulu couple was charged in a federal complaint with multiple counts of wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering for stealing $250,000 in an identity-theft scheme that involved obtaining personal account information via stolen mail, luggage, purses and other personal belongings.

The scam was outlined in a 11-count complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court against Abraham Nguyen Martin, co-owner of Tan Tien Video on South King Street, and Anna Martin.

The Martins could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone at the video store would not respond.

According to court records, about nine individuals were victimized from about Dec. 1, 2001, to February 2003 after Martin and others obtained their personal and financial information to open new credit card accounts and purchase computer and electronic equipment over the Internet.

The complaint also accuses Martin and others of stealing outgoing mail containing payments by personal check and altering them to make payments on his car loan, credit cards and other personal and business obligations.

The couple is also charged with copyright infringement for manufacturing and distributing nearly 700 copies of copyrighted movies between August 2002 and February 2003.

Based on the alleged violations, the federal government is ordering the couple to forfeit all property derived from the suspected illegal activities, including a 2002 Subaru Impreza, 2001 Mercedes Benz, 177 videocassette recorders and eight TVs.