Vacaville Police Arrest CalPERS Employee For Identity Theft
VACAVILLE (CBS SF) -- Vacaville police arrested a California Public Employees Retirement System employee Friday on suspicion of stealing the identity of a retired Vacaville resident to obtain loans without the victim's knowledge.
Investigators from the Vacaville Police Department's Investigative Services Division arrested 40-year-old Koren Lamar at her apartment in the 1000 block of Fulton Avenue in Sacramento, Vacaville police Sgt. Jeff King said.
During searches at Lamar's home and at the CalPERS offices on P Street in Sacramento, from which the victim was receiving retirement benefits, police seized evidence that led to Lamar's arrest for identity theft, King said.
The investigation began Jan. 23 after the victim reported that personal information had been used numerous times to obtain a variety of loans over a very short period of time, King said.
Investigators discovered a connection to the CalPERS from which the victim was receiving retirement benefits, King said.
The personal information used to apply for the loans is believed to have come from a CalPERS database, King said.
Vacaville police worked with CalPERS investigators on the case, King said.
Police believe Lamar was acting alone and no other suspects are being sought, King said.
Detectives believe there might be a small number of additional victims, King said.
CalPERS spokesman Brad Pacheco said Lamar was a retirement specialist in the customer accounts and services department where she worked with CalPERS members on their retirement benefits. Lamar started working at CalPERS in 2002, Pacheco said.
"The personal data of our 1.6 million members is out highest priority and we won't let one person overshadow our commitment to our members. We're confident our data is secure," Pacheco said.
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