Beth McCann

District Attorney

Second Judical District

201 W, Colfax Ave, Dept. 801
Denver, CO 80202

720-913-2000
Beth.McCann@denverda.org

News Release

July 9, 2019 Contact: Carolyn Tyler, Communications Director, carolyn.tyler@denverda.org, 720-913-9025

Nine-Member Identity Theft Ring Indicted Under Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (Gasser et al.)

DENVER—The Denver District Attorney today announced a 126-count grand jury indictment involving nine defendants, 77 victims and at least 52 companies. Maren Raquel Gasser (age 30), Jonathan Wray Hovey (age 39), Matthew Wade Turkett (age 30), Brett Alan Cravens (age 27), Kasee Rae Dela-Torre (age 28), John Christopher Garcia (age 26), Cory Roger Halvorson (age 42), Joseph James King (age 33) and Sara Marie Lore (age 37) are alleged to have violated Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act by engaging in a web of illegal activities throughout the Denver-metro area to support their methamphetamine and heroin use.

“Many agencies were involved in bringing this case forward and I would like to specifically acknowledge the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Broomfield Police Department, the Sheridan Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service as well as the members of the grand jury for their hard work,” said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. “This case is yet another example of what can happen when drug addiction spins out of control.”

The defendants shared money, food, clothing and a house in Broomfield to accomplish their goals. Among the items the ring allegedly stole beginning in May 2018, were at least 12 vehicles totaling $294,000 including a Porsche 911 and an Audi S3. They also stole a semiautomatic handgun, a vape kit, electronic devices, prescription drugs and numerous other items totaling more than $60,000 which were sold to support their drug use. The ring is also accused of engaging in identity theft and using stolen documents from the mail and from burglarizing garages to open credit accounts in their victim’s names with credit unions and with a casino in Black Hawk. Those fraudulent accounts were then used to purchase gift cards and merchandise.

On February 26, 2019, Halvorson and Lore were in a stolen Subaru WRX and tried to run over a Sheridan Police Detective, but fled before they were apprehended. Halvorson is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree for that incident.

The charges in the indictment  are Violation of Colorado’s Organized Crime Control Act (F2), seven counts of identity theft (F4), seven counts of forgery (F5), four counts of theft (M1), six counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree (F4), one count of second degree forgery (M1), two counts of second degree burglary (F3), two counts of theft (M2), one count of first degree criminal trespass (F5), six counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree (F5), one count of theft (F6), 72 counts of identity theft (F4), one count of possession of identity theft tools (F6), six counts of Pawnbroker Act Violation (F6), three counts of theft (M3), one count of possession of a controlled substance (DF4), one count of vehicular eluding (F5), two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree (F2), one count of second degree burglary (F4) and one count of possession of a weapon by a previous offender (F6).  Each defendant is charged for their alleged conduct and not every count in the indictment.

Charges against the defendants were filed on Friday, July 5, 2019.

 

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The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  See Colo. RPC 3.6