Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio reported today that his deputies arrested a female suspect in connection with the theft of a blind Valley woman’s identity. Elva Cadenas, 54, was arrested on April 11, 2014 by deputies in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Employment Unit for using stolen documents to gain employment at a Scottsdale resort.
Cardenas, a Mexican national now residing in Tempe, had been employed as a housekeeper at the 3 Palms Hotel at 77th Street and McDowell Road since July 2013. She admitted to detectives that she paid $350.00 for a stolen Social Security card and Arizona Driver’s License from someone on the street.
The victim, a Mesa resident, discovered the crime when she was denied benefits through Department of Economic Security due to the earned wages associated with the identity theft.
Sheriff Arpaio commented: “This is the 80th criminal employment operation of workplaces county-wide, resulting in over 560 arrests, conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office. It will not be the last.”
Cadenas was booked into Fourth Avenue Jail and charged with 5 counts of Aggravated Identity Theft (Class 3 Felony) and 5 counts of Forgery (Class 4 Felony).
The victim in this case stated she would aid in prosecution of the suspect.