Kalispell Woman Admits to Federal Fraud Charges in Missoula

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - In Missoula Federal District Court this week, two Kalispell women have been charged related to a scheme to steal and use stolen credit and debit cards.

I spoke with U.S. Attorney for Montana Jesse Laslovich about the case which has been under investigation since 2020.

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich Provides Details of Stolen Credit Cards Case

“Unfortunately, while rare, we're seeing too many cases similar to this one, where one's identity is being stolen and then fraud is being committed,” began Laslovich. “In this instance, the defendant, Alicia Leonetti, pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, both federal offenses we charged due to what we allege that she, along with a co-defendant, worked together to steal people's identity and then applied for debit cards and then used those credit or debit cards for their own personal use.”

Laslovich provided details about the second defendant in the case.

Another Kalispell Women Has Been Charged But Pleaded Not Guilty

“Miss Leonetti worked with her co defendant, whose name is Crystal Hall,” he said. “She worked at Kalispell Regional Medical Center now Logan Health. Miss Hall, we allege, retrieved personal identifying information from the hospital and then would share that with Miss Leonetti, who then would use that information to apply for those credit and debit cards which she received.”

Laslovich said there are strict federal guidelines about how much prison time is mandatory in such crimes.

“We'll see what the sentencing guidelines come out,” he said. “Her sentencing hearing will be in April, but whatever sentence she receives for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft carries with it a mandatory minimum of two years in federal prison, and that will run consecutive to whatever sentence she receives on the wire fraud charge.”

Laslovich Says Financial Crimes Are Difficult to Get Away With

Laslovich said he is always surprised that potential criminals don’t realize how robust the system is in investigating and convicting suspects on financial crimes.

“It surprises me, because eventually it catches up to people, and the reason for that is we can track it,” he said. “I mean, you just follow the money, as we were able to do. So here you're able to see the PII, the Personal Identifying Information being taken from the Health Care Center and then being given to someone else and then seeing her use the cards.”

Crystal Hall has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a trial is pending.