ID Thieves Used Love as Lure: Prosecutor

Miguel Bell romanced his way into more than $1 million, according to federal prosecutors.

Bell, 34, is accused of running an identity theft ring through local banks by coaxing information out of employees he recruited -- three of them were women he started relationships with in order to get the confidential information he needed, according to court documents.

Bell and his co-conspirators got account information from the bank employees then had lower-level people they called "runners" who would go into the banks and make withdrawals.

The scheme went on for more than three years as Bell orchestrated an operation that involved more than two-dozen people who helped bilk account holders at some of the area's largest banks, including Citizens, PNC and Wachovia.

“Anyone who has been the victim of identity theft has experienced the excruciating process involved in restoring a very precious commodity: their good standing,” said U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy.

Bell, four other men and one woman -- all from Philadelphia -- face a variety of conspiracy, theft and fraud charges.

If convicted of all charged, he'd face a minimum of two years and maximum of 331 years in prison, a possible fine of $16.7 million and be forced to pay $1,300,000 in restitution.

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