Glendale Heights Woman Charged With 52 Counts Of Identity Theft

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL — A Glendale Heights woman is being held on $200,000 after she was linked to what police are calling an "elaborate" identity theft scheme that cost more than two dozen people a total of "tens of thousands of dollars." Destiney Baker, 33, of the 1500 block of Lippert Lane, has been charged with 52 counts of aggravated identity theft, 12 counts of identity theft, 11 counts of continuing financial crimes enterprise, 12 counts of financial institution fraud, three counts of financial exploitation of the elderly, and one count of theft.

Police say Baker, who worked as a certified nursing assistant, used a staffing agency to target victims from whom she stole banking information between 2016 and 2019. She is accused of then opening bank accounts with the victims' information and used money she stole to buy plane tickets to Hawaii for her family, Catholic school tuition for her kids, dental work for a family member, and more.

In total, Baker targeted 33 victims, according to findings from an investigation led by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said, "It is alleged that Ms. Baker systematically stole thousands of dollars from her victims, some of whom were elderly, to pay for vacations, private school tuition and veterinarian services for her dog among other things. If these allegations are proven to be true, her despicable actions undoubtedly caused financial hardship to her thirty-three victims."