19 arrested in US for credit card, identity theft ring

Nineteen people have been arrested in nine US states for trafficking online in counterfeit credit cards and stolen personal information, the Justice Department announced Friday. The 19 arrested were members of a transnational criminal organization called "Carder.su" that operated principally out of Las Vegas, the department said in a statement. "The extent of the theft and sale of personal and financial information uncovered by this investigation is astonishing," US attorney Daniel Bogden said. "Electronic mediums have made it much easier for persons and groups to sell and trade stolen information and fraudulent documents nationally and internationally," Bogden said. Five people were arrested in Las Vegas and 14 in California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. The Justice Department said a further 30 people have been charged as part of "Operation Open Market" but were not identified because they have not yet been arrested. "Members bought and sold stolen personal and financial information through online forums and engaged in crimes such as identity theft and counterfeit credit card trafficking," the Justice Department said. They face charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and production and trafficking in false identification documents and access device cards.