Deputies arrest cell phone fraud suspects

A pair of Washington women are in Kootenai County Jail, accused of using a fraud scheme to steal at least $5,000 in cell phones from phone from stores operated by wireless service providers.

Kootenai County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Paradise S. Williams, 23, of Auburn, and Brittainney N. Lucenti, 28, of Puyallup, when, according to the Sheriff’s Office, the women attempted to defraud the AT&T store in Hayden using false business documents.

Per the Sheriff’s Office, it appears the women have attempted these thefts by providing both Verizon and AT&T with fraudulent Washington state business licenses and IRS documents indicating they worked for Heartland Mortgage Inc. based in Walla Walla, Washington. Williams and Lucenti allegedly used these forged documents to open new phone lines, purchase new phones, and then leave the store with the purchases being billed to Heartland Mortgage Inc.

After their arrest, deputies recovered six iPhone 8’s believed to have been recently stolen.

The deputies also recovered cash and several possible stolen credit/debit cards.

Based on information at the time of the arrest, investigators believe more victims may surface in the near future with additional charges being filed.

Williams is being held on suspicion of burglary and attempted grand theft, and Lucenti in custody facing charges of burglary and grand theft by possession of stolen property.