Two women who led a fraud ring that targeted four credit unions,eight banks and other businesses throughout the Denver metro areafor more than a year were indicted on March 5.

The Denver District Attorney's office said a grand jury returnedan 81-count indictment that accused eight people of identity theft,forgery, theft and numerous other felony crimes. The indictmentlists 35 victims of identity theft, losses totaling $49,000 and theattempted theft of an additional $11,000. Denver prosecutorsalleged the fraud ring stole checks from mailboxes and passedcounterfeit and forged checks. In numerous instances, members ofthe fraud ring also committed identify theft.

Lynn Kimbrough, a spokesperson for the Denver DA's office, saidtwo women, Quinetta Hunter, 32, and Tasha Phillips, 38, were theleaders of the fraud ring. They were charged with violating theColorado Organized Crime Control Act, conspiracy to commit identifytheft, conspiracy to commit forgery and other felonies.

The DA's office said Hunter and Phillips allegedly violated thestate's organized crime control act because they participated in acriminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity fortheir own benefit.

The ring targeted financial institutions including the $281million Partner Colorado Credit Union in Arvada, the $2.7 billionBellco Credit Union in Greenwood Village, the $1.2 billion WesterraCredit Union in Denver, the $1.4 billion Public Service EmployeesCredit Union in Denver, First Bank, Bank of the West, CollegiatePeaks Bank, Colorado State Bank and Trust, BBVA Compass Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, US Bank, Vectra Bank and Well Fargo Bank.

Six others charged with conspiracy to commit identity theft,conspiracy to commit forgery and theft were Ernest Daniels, MatriceFord, Shaqweila Phillips, Tony Phillips, Tashena Reid and DestineeSegura, according to the indictment.