Total Identity Theft

Candida Gutierrez
(Wichita, Kansas) A 32-year-old Mexican national, Benita Cardona-Gonzalez, assumed the identity of a Houston TX elementary school teacher, Candida Gutierrez, and took over all aspects of her documented life.

In accordance with an agreement, Cardona-Gonzalez pleaded guilty yesterday to a reduced charge of possessing fraudulent identification documents.

Gutierrez recounted how the thief not only opened bank and credit accounts, but assumed her entire persona — using it to get a job, a driver's license, a mortgage, food stamps and even medical care for the birth of two children.

All the while, the crook claimed the real Gutierrez was the one who had stolen her identity.

This case is a mess which demonstrates the turmoil a person experiences when identity is stolen. Cardona-Gonzalez will be sentenced to 18 months in prison on March 25. Deportation reportedly will follow.