Portland “Credit Card Predator” Arrested for Fraud
A Portland woman was arrested at the Jantzen Beach Red Lion Hotel bar where she works this week marking a growing trend in identity theft and credit card fraud. Noelle McDonald was served with a warrant for failure to appear but also faces several additional charges in the area.
Clackamas County, OR Sherriff’s office states that McDonald is facing at least 5 charges of identity theft in addition to the failure to appear charge. Identity theft involves using someone else’s personal information as your own. This could mean using their social security number to get a credit card or apply for a loan. In McDonald’s case it seems she was using the information of people who trusted her to open credit accounts.
Identity theft and similar fraud crimes are often perpetuated against people close to the accused. With McDonald it appears as though she targeted people who trusted her, using the information of a friend’s sister when the friend allowed McDonald to stay with him last year.
Because McDonald sits in jail and couldn’t make any statements to this report from Fox12, we can only guess as to her motive. Often crimes like this are committed out of convenience and a sense of hopelessness. People in financial trouble are more likely to betray the trust of friends to get ahead if they feel like they won’t get caught.
No matter the reason, white collar crimes like identity theft and credit card fraud carry serious penalties. Using someone else’s information for financial gain is not morally right nor is it legal. Because we are all susceptible to being victims of this kind of crime, these offenses deeply worry the public.
If you are charged with committing a fraud you probably know exactly what I am talking about when I say the short term results of your crime were in no way worth what you are going through right now. We all make mistakes and perhaps you are dealing with the effects of yours right now.
Having an experienced defense attorney to turn to with questions about your case is crucial in maintaining some semblance of sanity when you are up against criminal charges. I can answer your questions and tirelessly defend your interests.
Call me today if you are facing criminal charges like these and together we can figure out the best solution for you.
User Comments:
Beana, I am very sorry to hear you are a crime victim in this case. I hope it works out for you.
No, it is not ok for people to take what does not belong to them. It should go without saying that the victims are the primary concern.
But everyone deserves a defense. It’s the cornerstone of our criminal justice system. And people make mistakes. It a person is guilty, they still should be treated fairly and receive a just and reasonable penalty. It doesn’t just work that way automatically, without someone arguing for the defendant’s rights.
And people are falsely accused of crimes all the time. Certainly not the majority of the time, but it absolutely happens.
That’s why being accused of a crime isn’t the same as being guilty.
I don’t think any of us would want a system where anyone charged with a crime was immediately convicted without a fair hearing.
So criminal defense lawyers have an important role to play.
But I completely understand your frustration and sympathize.
I think it is wrong to help these people who steal from others…. she has done this many times and only got a slap on the rist.. but how ever ruined my life. so your add is not right… you are making it sound like it is ok for people to take what is not theirs and that is wrong. i dont know how you sleep at night. i was one of many of her victumes