2 Plead Guilty In Identity Theft

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Two women have pleaded guilty in a plot to steal merchandise using personal information obtained from patients in medical offices where one of the women worked.

Chanell Cole, 30, of Owings Mills and Yolanda Welch, 39, of Philadelphia pleaded guilty in federal court in Baltimore Monday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. They will be sentenced in April.

According to their plea agreements, Cole, who worked for a physician, stole personal identifying information from patients.

Prosecutors say Cole gave the information to Welch and others, who opened accounts at department stores and bought items for their personal use.

Identity Theft