Posted 10:16 pm Friday, February 01, 2013
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Mount Pleasant woman arrested for identity theft
A former employee of the Northeast Texas Public Health District was arrested earlier this month, accused of stealing the identities of hundreds of patients at a Mount Pleasant clinic she worked for before working in Tyler.
Selena Patino, 38, of Mount Pleasant, was arrested by the Titus County Sherriff’s Office on Jan. 4 and charged with fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, a second-degree felony, and credit card abuse, a state jail felony.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison for the second-degree felony and up to two years in a state jail facility for the state jail felony.
Ms. Patino worked in the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Mount Pleasant clinic since 2008 before becoming employed by the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) in October. She was terminated by NET Health on Jan. 3, and authorities do not believe any clients of the local facility were victims.
Investigators determined that Ms. Patino had assumed the identity of clients receiving immunizations and other services at the clinic in Mount Pleasant, according to a prepared statement from the Titus County Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Patino used the client information and applied for credit cards online and when approved, made as many purchases as the credit card would allow.
Some of the property Ms. Patino purchased with the credit cards was recovered, along with stolen credit cards, immunization records and other documents with the names of clients or family members and Social Security numbers.
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Selena Patino, 38, of Mount Pleasant, was arrested by the Titus County Sherriff’s Office on Jan. 4 and charged with fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, a second-degree felony, and credit card abuse, a state jail felony.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison for the second-degree felony and up to two years in a state jail facility for the state jail felony.
Ms. Patino worked in the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Mount Pleasant clinic since 2008 before becoming employed by the Northeast Texas Public Health District (NET Health) in October. She was terminated by NET Health on Jan. 3, and authorities do not believe any clients of the local facility were victims.
Investigators determined that Ms. Patino had assumed the identity of clients receiving immunizations and other services at the clinic in Mount Pleasant, according to a prepared statement from the Titus County Sheriff’s Office. Ms. Patino used the client information and applied for credit cards online and when approved, made as many purchases as the credit card would allow.
Some of the property Ms. Patino purchased with the credit cards was recovered, along with stolen credit cards, immunization records and other documents with the names of clients or family members and Social Security numbers.
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“In coordination with law enforcement, the Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating the actions of a former DSHS Mount Pleasant clinic employee who is alleged to have fraudulently used credit card and other personal information from local clients and colleagues to make recent purchases,” Carrie Williams, director of media relations for DSHS, said in a prepared statement.
George Roberts, chief executive officer of the NET Health, said Ms. Patino’s victims appear to be limited to the people who received services at the Mount Pleasant clinic.
Ms. Patino was an employee for the DSHS for almost five years. After NET Health took over responsibility of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program from DSHS on Oct. 1, Ms. Patino was transferred to Tyler, Roberts said.
Allegations about Ms. Patino’s actions at the Mount Pleasant clinic were brought to their attention, they investigated and fired her before her arrest, he said.
Ms. Williams said there could be several hundred victims, including clients and employees of the Mount Pleasant clinic, which serves Titus and surrounding counties. DSHS will be notifying them, she added.
“It is unclear whether the matter involves only recent patients, or whether older records were accessed,” she said. “There is no indication at this time that clients receiving DSHS services in other parts of the state were affected.”
People who received services at the Mount Pleasant clinic and believe they may be victims are urged to contact credit bureaus to review their histories and evaluate whether a fraud alert or credit monitoring is warranted, Ms. Williams said. The credit bureaus are Equifax at 877-478-7625; Experian at 888-397-3742; and TransUnion at 800-680-7289.
“If people find evidence that their personal information has been misused, they should notify local law enforcement,” Ms. Williams said.
She said DSHS also is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft services for people whose personal information was found in the possession of Ms. Patino without authorization. For more information, contact DSHS at 800-350-6029
George Roberts, chief executive officer of the NET Health, said Ms. Patino’s victims appear to be limited to the people who received services at the Mount Pleasant clinic.
Ms. Patino was an employee for the DSHS for almost five years. After NET Health took over responsibility of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program from DSHS on Oct. 1, Ms. Patino was transferred to Tyler, Roberts said.
Allegations about Ms. Patino’s actions at the Mount Pleasant clinic were brought to their attention, they investigated and fired her before her arrest, he said.
Ms. Williams said there could be several hundred victims, including clients and employees of the Mount Pleasant clinic, which serves Titus and surrounding counties. DSHS will be notifying them, she added.
“It is unclear whether the matter involves only recent patients, or whether older records were accessed,” she said. “There is no indication at this time that clients receiving DSHS services in other parts of the state were affected.”
People who received services at the Mount Pleasant clinic and believe they may be victims are urged to contact credit bureaus to review their histories and evaluate whether a fraud alert or credit monitoring is warranted, Ms. Williams said. The credit bureaus are Equifax at 877-478-7625; Experian at 888-397-3742; and TransUnion at 800-680-7289.
“If people find evidence that their personal information has been misused, they should notify local law enforcement,” Ms. Williams said.
She said DSHS also is offering free credit monitoring and identity theft services for people whose personal information was found in the possession of Ms. Patino without authorization. For more information, contact DSHS at 800-350-6029
