
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Authorities have arrested a Magalia woman for elder abuse and identity theft involving several victims around the region, with police concerned that still more people may have been targeted.
Connie Lynn Ogle, 37, was arrested following an investigation by the Chico Police Detective Bureau, according to Sgt. Scott Harris.
Harris said Ogle has been under investigation since July, when the Chico Police Department received a report of an extensive financial abuse case involving an 82-year-old victim.
The victim’s son posted an ad on www.care.com searching for a caregiver for his ailing mother. Harris said Ogle answered the ad, portraying herself as a care provider with extensive experience with in-home health services.
Ogle was hired and immediately started caring for the victim. Shortly after that, the victim discovered that someone had opened multiple credit cards in her name, according to Harris.
He said it was believed that while Ogle was supposed to be caring for the victim she accessed the victim’s mail and stole personal information which allowed her to open the fraudulent accounts.
Investigators discovered an enormous amount of evidence showing that Ogle had victimized numerous other elderly victims after she was hired as a caregiver, Harris said.
Harris said that it appears that Ogle would be hired as a caregiver and immediately start stealing the identities of the elderly victims to obtain fraudulent credit cards and other financial benefits.
After a nine-month investigation, Chico Police detectives – along with the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force and the Chico Police Target Team – served multiple search warrants at an address in Magalia and two locations in Chico, Harris said.
As a result of the search warrants, Harris said authorities recovered a large amount of evidence proving that Ogle stole the identities of the elderly victims.
In addition, authorities seized 85 pounds of processed marijuana, nearly $27,000 in cash and multiple firearms, Harris said.
Harris said police received information that Ogle was in Lake County. The Chico Police Department subsequently requested that the Lake County Sheriff's Office take her into custody on an arrest warrant.
Lake County Sheriff's deputies arrested Ogle on May 12. Harris did not have details about Ogle's activities in Lake County before her arrest.
Harris said Ogle faces multiple charges of burglary, identity theft, elder abuse, possession of marijuana for sale and being a felon in possession of a firearm. She was booked and transported to Butte County Jail.
During the course of our investigation, Harris said Chico Police detectives have identified six victims in Butte County, two victims in Napa County and two victims in Nevada County.
So far, Harris said, “We have not identified any victims from Lake County.”
However, the investigation remains open, as Harris said police suspect that Ogle has stolen the identity of other victims who have yet to contact the police department.
If you have hired Ogle as a caregiver and have been the victim of identity theft-related crimes, contact the Chico Police Department Detective Bureau at 530-897-5820.
For tips on how to protect yourself from being a victim of identity theft, visit www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/cyber/identity_theft .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.