Published December 31 2014
Two suspects were recently sentenced for numerous counts of Identity Theft after separate investigations by Bellevue Police detectives and others. The suspects, Patrick McCabe and Paul Bauer, were sentenced earlier this month in King County Superior Court.
Bauer received 100 months in prison after pleading guilty to 15 counts of identity theft first degree with aggravating circumstances, and McCabe received 25 months in prison after pleading guilty to 13 counts of identity theft second degree, and 25 months of probation under "Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative," which could result in the 25 month probation being converted back to prison for non-compliance or further criminal conduct while on probation.
McCabe's case gained media attention earlier this year after he was featured as a suspect on “Washington’s Most Wanted,†and later arrested after a tip from a viewer. A Bellevue Police investigation revealed that McCabe was running an elaborate mail and identity theft operation out of a condominium in Bellevue.
A joint investigation by investigators in five counties revealed that Bauer was responsible for numerous identity theft cases involving at least 16 separate victims throughout King, Snohomish, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties, and had stolen over $200,000 from those victims.
Lieutenant Patricelli with the Bellevue Police Department stated: “This investigation shows that identity theft cannot and will not be tolerated in our community. As a result of the hard work of our detectives, two career criminals are behind bars.â€
Bellevue Police remind citizens to frequently check their bank accounts for fraudulent activity, and install locking mail boxes to prevent mail theft.