Cops: L.A. college student defrauded victims to pay tuition

LOS ANGELES - A community college student in Los Angeles is accused of identity theft so she could purchase gift cards to pay for her tuition - and a whole lot more, reports CBS Los Angeles.

Reon Jordan, 34, was arrested Tuesday by detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Community College Bureau following a nine-month investigation.

Detectives say Jordan's goal in fraudulently obtaining credit card numbers and identities was not only to pay her costs at West Los Angeles Community College but also to pay for hair extensions, clothing, jewelry and airline tickets to Alaska.

Jordan reportedly obtained her victims' information through her prior employment at ABEO, a medical billing company with offices in Pasadena.

At the time of her arrest, Jordan had more than 400 identity profiles and 200 credit card numbers of victims in her possession, authorities say, according to the station.

Victims of the scheme have reportedly been located in Los Angeles, Torrance, Santa Monica, Topanga, Malibu, and Mammoth Lakes, Calif., as well as in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Jordan was arrested at her home and booked at the South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. She is charged with grand theft, burglary and unauthorized use of personal identifying information.

Her bail was set at $1.2 million.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims that have yet to be identified, reports the station.

Anyone who may have information about the case is asked to contact the LASD's Community College Bureau at (323) 669-7555.