A local woman admitted Monday that she stole the identities of 15 patients while working at an Oro Valley oncology office.
Veronica Astorga Carmona could receive probation when sentenced next month or between two and 8.75 years in prison.
On June 25, a cancer patient gave his Visa credit card to Carmona following an appointment at Arizona Oncology, 1521 E. Tangerine Rd., according to court records. Later that day, he discovered his credit card had been used to pay Carmona’s rent of $983.25. He also discovered Carmona had used the card to buy a speaker system at Best Buy for $350.
Detectives searched Carmona’s house and found items that had recently been purchased at Lowe’s, JC Penney and Aaron’s Rent-to-Own, along with credit cards in other women’s names, court documents state.
She took the names and personal information of Arizona Oncology patients to obtain the credit cards, Carmona told detectives.
Carmona was indicted July 17 on seven counts of taking the identity of another, one count each of aggravated taking the identity of another and fraud.
On Monday, she pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated taking the identity of another. The count lists 15 individuals, along with Capitol One, Wells Fargo and Bank Of America, as victims.
Carmona told Pima County Superior Court Judge Howard Hantman she had gotten into a financial “bind.”
Knowing felons aren’t allowed to vote, Carmona asked Hantman to postpone her sentencing hearing until after Nov. 6.
Hantman set her sentencing for Oct. 1.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com. On Twitter: @KimSmithStar
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