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Six people have been arrested and two others are expected to be brought into custody on charges that they assumed the identities of individuals participating in a medical study and used them to fraudulently obtain nearly $300,000 in merchandise, Statewide Prosecutor Melanie Ann Hines, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner James T. Moore and Orlando Police Chief Jerry Demings announced today.

Among those arrested were Louie Foster, 36, and Michaela Rosson, 34, both of Orlando, and Kimberly Bowes, 25, of Lake Helen. Also arrested were Herbert Smith, 44, Matthew Butler, 42, and Jessica Pugh, 23, all of Chicago, Illinois. Two other Chicagoans, Cheryl Thomas, 41, and Rodney Coffee, 34, are expected to be arrested soon, the officials said. Each of the eight faces up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on charges of organized fraud brought against them by the Sixteenth Statewide Grand Jury.

According to officials, an employee of the Nemours Children's Clinic in Orlando obtained social security numbers and other identifying information of 18 individuals from around the country who participated in a study concerning cystic fibrosis and whose children suffer from the disease.

"That personal information was passed on to the employee's brother, Herbert Smith, who had false birth certificates and social security printouts created in Chicago," Hines said. "He then recruited people he knew previously in the Chicago area, as well as new acquaintances made in Orange and Seminole counties. They in turn used the false documents to obtain identity cards in the names of the victims through offices of the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles."

According to officials, the individuals used the false identities to obtain instant credit at electronic and furniture stores across Orange and Seminole counties, then purchased big screen televisions, computers and other high cost items until the victims' credit limits were exhausted. The purchased items were later sold on the streets of Orlando and Chicago for half their retail value and the proceeds divided by Smith and given to the suspects.

The investigation by FDLE and the Orlando Police Department was part of Operation LEGIT (Law Enforcement Getting Identity Thieves), a statewide initiative to combat identity theft in Florida.

Additional information may be obtained from Bob Finkbeiner, Assistant Statewide Prosecutor, (407) 245-0893; Wayne Ivey, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, (407) 245-0801; or Tom McQuade, Orlando Police Department, (407) 246-2981.