Admitted Dumpster Diver Charged With Identity Theft in Rochester

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A woman with previous convictions for identity theft in the Twin Cities is now facing charges in Olmsted County in connection with her arrest in Rochester three years ago.

The criminal complaint against 50-year-old Cassie Cullen of Brooklyn Park charges her with felony counts of identity theft and receiving stolen property. She has been ordered to make her first court appearance on the charges next month.

Court documents indicate Cullens was caught in possession of numerous fraudulent checks, financial transaction cards, and personal identifying information on a number of individuals. When questioned by investigators, Cullen stated that she was in Rochester for her husband's medical appointments and she had relapsed on methamphetamine, which led to "dumpster diving" to find documents useful for identity theft. The criminal complaint says she also admitted to using some of the information to apply for a financial card in another person's name.

The charges say investigators searched Cullen's hotel room and confiscated two bags of papers containing financial and identifying information. Materials found in the hotel room, Cullen's vehicle, and in her purse contained personal and identifying information on approximately 200 individuals and businesses. Those materials included 76 checks written out to other people or organizations for about $56,000.

The court record includes a listing of the seized materials, including but not limited to the following:

• A Wells Fargo debit in the name of Victim 1 (H.P.H an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• An EBT card in the name of Victim 2 (M.A.K an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• Another EBT card in the name of Victim 2
• A debit card in the name of Victim 3 (S.B.Z an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A debit card in the name of Victim 4 (J.A.S an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A Costco Executive membership card in the name of Victim 5 (R.J) bearing the defendant's picture
• A debit card in the name of Victim 6 (E.K. an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• An airline's reward card in the name of Victim 7 (R.M.L an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A Mastercard in the name of Victim 6
• A MN Identification card in the name of Victim 8 (C.J.S an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A MN Identification card in the name of Victim 9 (L.A.L.S an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A debit card associated with a health savings account in the name of Victim 10 (M.B.D. an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A credit card in the name of Victim 11 (Q.P.H an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• A MN DVS Temporary License in the name of Victim 6 bearing the defendant's photograph
• A MN DVS Temporary ID in the name of Victim 12 (T.H)
• A Social Security number for Victim 13 (B.E an adult fully identified in the police reports)
• Social Security numbers for Victims 14 and 15 (C.W.W and N.A.W adults fully identified in the police reports) on a tax document.