Reports: Woman Used Alleged Drug Dealer's ID During Crime

A local woman in prison recently was served with more charges after police allegedly uncovered that she was using an alleged drug dealer’s identity as her own, according to arrest reports and a court affidavit.

Samarah Thurston, 31, of Penwood Drive in Penacook, was arrested at 7:15 a.m. on Oct. 4, 2015, and charged with felony identity fraud, obstructing government administration, and theft by unauthorized taking.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

Back on July 28, 2015, Concord Police were called to a report of a theft at the Route 106 Shell station on Sheep Davis Road.

According to an arrest report, a store clerk alleged that he had a shoplifter in custody that was grabbing candy and pastries off the shelves while he was speaking with a delivery driver. The woman allegedly dropped her purse on the floor and then put the items in her purse. She paid for a drink but not the other items and left.

The store manager met with her outside, she agreed to come back in, and allegedly admitted to stealing the items, according to the police report at the time. The value of the items was about $8.30.

When the officer met with the woman, she had a New Hampshire ID with the name “Tiffany Ramos” on it, a woman who was arrested in Manchester for allegedly hiding heroin in her bra the month before. The officer questioned her about the highest grade she completed in high school – 10th grade – and whether or not she was taking medications – prenatal vitamins. She was also asked if she understood English.

After questioning – in which the woman allegedly admitted to stealing the items – she was released on a summons and was due to be in court on Aug. 31.

About a month later, on Aug. 27, 2015, the arresting officer was informed by a detective that the woman he issued the non-custody arrest to was not actually Ramos but Thurston, according to an affidavit. The detective stated that after arresting a Concord man on a warrant the day before, that person reportedly told him that Ramos was incarcerated at the time.

“She must be using Tiffany’s license,” the man told the detective.

The detective did some checking and confirmed this by speaking with the Strafford County Jail and looking at booking photos and Facebook, and also with the help of the Boscawen Police Department.

“I ran Thurston’s name in our in-house system and confirmed this to be true through a previous booking photo as well that Thurston was the individual I dealt with,” the officer stated in the report.

The officer also noted that he searched the woman’s purse and found a wallet with only Ramos’ ID. Thurston allegedly admitted to the officer that it was hers. The officer recalled asking her about a noticeable weight difference – Ramos’ license said she weighed around 190 lbs. while Thurston was much lighter. She reportedly told the officer she weighed about 160 lbs. and had recently lost weight.

“In recalling this incident further, Thurston was very concerned about becoming a full custody arrest and having to go the police station,” the officer noted.

The officer then called the Strafford County Jail to check and see if Ramos was in custody. She was, according to the jail, and had been since June 12, 2015. The officer was unable to speak with Ramos but stated in the report that he would call back about the case. 

The officer filed a court affidavit on Sept. 3, 2015, and a month later, went to the Women’s State Prison in Goffstown to serve Thurston with the warrant. She requested bail, since she was scheduled to be released on Oct. 5, but the bail commissioner offered no bail and she was arraigned via video. 

“Just before Thurston left the room, Thurston stated to me that she was sorry that she lied to me,” the officer noted.