Three arrested in identity theft investigation

By: Penne Usher, Gold Country News Service
Friday, January 18, 2008

Placer County Sheriff's detectives arrested three suspects in Roseville on suspicion of operating an identity theft ring.

Detectives and U.S. Postal Service agents served a search warrant at 621 Grove St. in Roseville Thursday arresting Mellissa Marie Spray, 32, Angela Michelle Melvin, 33, and Patrick Wayne Spray, 29.

All were booked into the Placer County Jail on charges of identity theft, possession of stolen property and manufacturing checks from laptop computers.

Placer County Detective Ryan West developed leads that suspects were breaking into vehicles in Placer and Sacramento County areas and stealing victim's personal information and checks, according to Sgt. Brian Whigam of the Placer County Sheriff's Department.

"Mellissa Spray and Angela Melvin would take personal information of the victim's accounts and create checks with their account numbers and names," he said. "They would later cash the checks or purchase gift cards at local grocery stores."

Several computers, used to produce checks and driver's licenses, were located at the Grove Street residence, he said. Detectives reportedly found the names of several victims at the residence whom they have contacted, and learned that the victim's vehicles were broken into and their purses and wallets stolen.

Mellissa Spray is being held on $150,000 bail. Angela Melvin's bail is set at $5,000 and Patrick Spray is on a no bail hold.