ANDERSON WOMAN RECEIVES PRISON TERM FOR IDENTITY THEFT

 

October 31, 2008

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

This morning an Anderson woman was sentenced to six years and eight months in State Prison following her conviction for Identity Theft, Forgery, and Passing Stolen Checks, and Driving Under the Influence of Drugs.  Judge Anthony Anderson sentenced Wanda Marie Wise, 51, after she pled guilty to seven felonies and one misdemeanor.   

In early 2007, Wise began stealing mail and UPS packages from homes in Redding.  She then used checks she had obtained to make fraudulent purchases at numerous Shasta County businesses.  She was arrested after she attempted to pass a stolen check at Costco on March 21, 2007.  A brief pursuit with law enforcement ensued, during which Wise threw drug paraphernalia out of the car.  A search warrant was then served on Wise’s home, and more stolen property was located.  Wise has prior felony convictions for Forgery, Receiving Stolen Property and narcotics offenses.

While the case was pending, Wise was involved in a single-car collision. It was later determined that she was Driving Under the Influence of methamphetamine and methadone.  The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Erin M. Dervin, and investigated by Redding Police Investigator Eric Little and United States Postal Inspector Dan Cook.