A 52-year-old man, Trino Lopez, with a history of 40 criminal convictions since 1995, has been slammed with a 12-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a litany of charges including identity theft, forgery, and illegal firearm possession, this sequence of events follows a car break-in on Christmas Day 2022 where the victim lost items worth $8,000, so says a report from Clackamas County officials.
In a brazen holiday theft, Lopez along with his fiancée and co-defendant Tyanna Fitzpatrick, who is still in the clink awaiting trial on more than 40 counts with bail set at a cool $630,000, were nabbed by deputies using an Apple AirTag that led them to Kings Manor Apartments in Milwaukie; deputies spotted the vehicle, observed traffic violations and after stopping it they peered inside to see a firearm box that matched the stolen goods, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office provided these details.
Lopez's downward spiral continued when deputies' search unearthed a plethora of identification theft instruments including printers, blank checks, and fake IDs with his face but sporting assorted names, a standout find was a check altered for a jaw-dropping $92,000. Clackamas County deputy district attorney Chelsea Jones, highlighting the meticulous effort of Deputy David McCarthy in documenting the evidence, said, "It was incredibly helpful that the victims in the case were cooperative and willing to come to court," as reported by Clackamas County news release.
With over 200 victims entwined in the web of deceit spun by Lopez, district attorney John Wentworth emphasized the gravity of identity theft, stating, "We work hard every day to prosecute criminals who engage in identity theft," underscoring his office's mission to foster a secure community, and though the ramifications for the victims remain immeasurable for example one victim, unbeknownst to them had their tax returns and family's social security cards seized and another discovered the IRS mistakenly identified another as their dependent the district attorney's office is unwavering in its resolve as conveyed in a public statement.
Amid the wretched tales from the courtroom, the tales of personal havoc wreaked by Lopez’s actions, one stands out, with a victim recounting the struggle her daughter faced in her first foray into adulthood while facing the complexity of tax filings, tainted by identity misappropriation, a sentiment echoed by other victims via impact statements during sentencing. Fitzpatrick's day in court is set for May 28, as the ignominious chapter of this Christmas caper draws toward closure.
