Mom and daughter bond with ID theft, mail fraud
Isn’t it wonderful when an adult daughter and her mother can put behind them the storms of adolescence and years later become real friends…confidants and co-conspirators to commit aggravated identity theft and mail fraud?
Such is the heartwarming story of Cassidy Janosky, 36, and her mother, Cynthia Jean Walker, 54. Cynthia worked as real estate agent in Kennewick, Washington, and her daughter, Cassidy, was a vice president and business-development officer for Bank of the West.
Like other moms and daughters, Cassidy and Cynthia enjoyed shopping together. Unlike other mother-daughter duos, these two used other people’s credit to pay for their goodies. Two LCD televisions, two recliners, a treadmill, a Sony Playstation 3, and an iPod were among the fruits of their fraud, which totaled more than $13,000.
As a banker, Cassidy had easy access to bank customers’ identifying information. As a real estate agent, Cynthia knew which vacant houses were safe to use as mail and delivery addresses. Put them together and they had the perfect plan.
Well, almost perfect. The two were arrested in January when they went to a local Sears store to pick up a treadmill (a birthday gift for Cynthia) and a Sony Playstation. And that’s where this happy store begins to unravel.
The two were indicted by a federal grand jury in January. Walker has been found guilty of two counts of mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The aggravated ID theft charges will be dropped when she testifies against her daughter early next year.
Janosky maintains that her mother planned and initiated the scam. Janosky faces four counts of mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. Her attorney is negotiating a plea bargain.
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