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Coworkers charged with identity theft, larceny in URI Alumni Center, nine victims confirmed
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 9/12/08 Section: News
9/12/08 - University of Rhode Island police have confirmed nine current and former Alumni Center employees as victims of identity theft.
Last fall, University Police began fielding calls from employees who found suspicious accounts had been opened on their credit reports. After months of investigation, police discovered that a custodial worker had stolen personal information from several employees during regular business hours.
Two residents of Fall River, Mass., Eliza Lima, 41, of 311 Jencks St. Apt. 3, and sister Christiana Billafon, 43, of 141 Palmer St., were both charged with nine counts of identity fraud, three counts of larceny less than $250 and three counts of larceny more than $250 - a felony.
Lima and Billafon were both employees of TriState Cleaning Co., a Providence-based company now under investigation for hiring illegal immigrants.
Billafon worked in the Alumni Center in August and September of 2007. Her sister, Lima, worked there in October and November of 2007.
Police later determined that Lima and Billafon had been working together by stealing names and social security numbers from time cards left in the office.
Lima told police she worked in the center from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and took the time cards from recycling bins and trashcans throughout the office after a woman named Marcia Souza told her to take them. It is unclear how Souza and Lima knew each other.
Lima told police Marcia Souza did not work for the university or the cleaning company, but would visit Lima at work and ask her to get information.
Lima told police Souza asked her to get any information containing names and social security numbers. The sisters said Souza had left for Brazil and they were not sure if she would be returning.
Both Lima and Billafon are originally from Brazil. Billafon is now a U.S. citizen, while Lima is not. URI Police Officer Thomas Kent said she will likely be deported following her trial.
Last fall, University Police began fielding calls from employees who found suspicious accounts had been opened on their credit reports. After months of investigation, police discovered that a custodial worker had stolen personal information from several employees during regular business hours.
Two residents of Fall River, Mass., Eliza Lima, 41, of 311 Jencks St. Apt. 3, and sister Christiana Billafon, 43, of 141 Palmer St., were both charged with nine counts of identity fraud, three counts of larceny less than $250 and three counts of larceny more than $250 - a felony.
Lima and Billafon were both employees of TriState Cleaning Co., a Providence-based company now under investigation for hiring illegal immigrants.
Billafon worked in the Alumni Center in August and September of 2007. Her sister, Lima, worked there in October and November of 2007.
Police later determined that Lima and Billafon had been working together by stealing names and social security numbers from time cards left in the office.
Lima told police she worked in the center from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and took the time cards from recycling bins and trashcans throughout the office after a woman named Marcia Souza told her to take them. It is unclear how Souza and Lima knew each other.
Lima told police Marcia Souza did not work for the university or the cleaning company, but would visit Lima at work and ask her to get information.
Lima told police Souza asked her to get any information containing names and social security numbers. The sisters said Souza had left for Brazil and they were not sure if she would be returning.
Both Lima and Billafon are originally from Brazil. Billafon is now a U.S. citizen, while Lima is not. URI Police Officer Thomas Kent said she will likely be deported following her trial.
