The Baltimore police officer charged in an identity theft scheme in Pennsylvania has implicated several other officers as accomplices, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Quandra Johnson, who has been on the Baltimore police force for three years, allegedly told investigators that other officers in the department worked with her as she allegedly used fraudulent credit cards. She also allegedly told the investigators that stolen goods obtained with the credit cards were sent by express courier to the western district headquarters, where she was assigned. The new allegations surfaced as Johnson sought to cut a deal with prosecutors, according to sources close to the investigation.
Johnson was arrested at the King of Prussia Mall in Upper Merion, Pa., on July 29 for allegedly using a counterfeit American Express card to purchase several $1,000 gift certificates.
According to Det. Sgt. Jeff McCabe of the Upper Merrion Police Department, Johnson was charged with two counts of access-device fraud, two counts of theft by deception, five counts of identity theft, receiving stolen property and forgery. McCabe said Johnson?s name, as well as “Randazzo Incorporated” was printed on the allegedly fraudulent card used to purchase the gift certificates. Five other allegedly fraudulent American Express cards were in her possession, McCabe said.
McCabe also said Johnson was accompanied by three other yet to be identified individuals whom police are still seeking. McCabe said that the investigation by the Upper Merion Police department is ongoing.
Matt Jablow, spokesman for the Baltimore Police Department, said that Johnson has been suspended without pay, and that she is awaiting trial in Upper Merion. He said that he did not know if the city was investigating other officers.
