Carson City authorities arrest woman in bank identity thefts; investigators report $100,000 stolen
Submitted by editor on Tue, 10/12/2010 - 1:30pm
A California woman who tried to withdrawal $9,100 in the form of a cashiers check at a Carson City US Bank told authorities that she's "tired of the lies" removed a wig she was wearing and confessed to false identity crimes.
Margaret Murdock, 59, of Pleasanton, Calif., faces felony charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, false identification crimes, forgery and burglary. Bank investigators say Murdock may be responsible for about $100,000 stolen in California. Bail is set at $20,000.
According to the arrest report, bank employees contact authorities Oct. 8 after Murdock attempted to obtain the cashiers check using a false identity. The woman, wearing a gray wig, was at the bank when police arrived and was asked by police to speak in another room.
The woman willing complied but when she was read the Miranda warning she requested to speak with a lawyer and then she began to sob, according to the arrest report.
The woman then gave authorities a false name, age and began to recite a false Social Security number finally admitting that she was lying. She told authorities, "I don't know it. That's not my name." When authorities advised the woman of her Miranda rights again, she said "Yes, I'm tired of the lies" and then proceeded to give them her correct identification.
Continuing to sob, the woman said "I hate the lying. I wanted to get caught; is that bad to say? I'm on probation and I have a PIN number. You know I was almost off probation."
The woman then reached to the gray-colored hair piece from her head and asked "can I take this off?" whereby she pulled the wig off from her long brown hair, according to the report.
Officers spoke with a US Bank investigator who advised the woman had conducted several of the same type of transactions in California: Two in Pleasanton with success, one in Pleasanton without success and another in Walnut Creek. The investigator advised that a total of $100,000 had been stolen.
After being informed there may be others involved, the woman continued to speak with authorities after signing the Miranda rights waiver. She said that a man, who identified himself to her as "Jay" and drives a black Oldsmobile with California license plates, is the provider of victim identification used to cash the checks. She said he was the one that dropped her off at the bank.
The woman told authorities that Jay approached her when she was panhandling outside of a coffee shop and asked her if she wanted to make some money. She told authorities that she was a transient and of staying on the streets.
The man would give Murdock information, which she assumed he got from "the inside" and drove her to different branches of US Bank. Murdock told authorities that Jay would have her "call in" to see if there was enough money in the accounts. If there was enough money Jay would have Murdock make a withdrawal, according to the arrest report.
Murdock said she would give the money to Jay and he would pay for her motel rooms and give her a little money for beer, the arrest report states. The woman said she couldn't remember the names of the other two victims who she used to get money, but that there were about three people. She then voluntarily completed and signed a statement and an apology letter to the victims of her crimes.
The matter remains under investigation.
Carson City Secret Witness will pay up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who commit crimes. Call the tip line at (775) 322-4900. Callers always remain anonymous.
