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Man Accused Of Operating ID Theft Ring Arrested

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 55-year-old West St. Paul man was arrested Wednesday by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for his alleged involvement with a large-scale identity theft ring that included credit card fraud, theft and counterfeit checks.

Donald Allen Ellis was taken into custody in connection with the case and charged with felony counts of theft and racketeering. He is currently in the Hennepin County Jail with bail set at $1,000,000.

According to a complaint, Ellis was the man who ran the criminal operation. He told several accomplices to break into vehicles and steal purses. Credit cards were then used to buy merchandise, including gift cards and Ipads. Ellis would steal the identities of the victims and had their names printed on counterfeit checks.

Authorities said there were at least eight victims, and the crimes took place in Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Dakota, Scott and Carver Counties in Minnesota and in Wisconsin. The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office was assisted by several agencies in its investigation.

*Update: The Hennepin Co. Sheriff's Office continues to investigate this case.  If you believe you were the victim of Ellis, if you have information about the case, or you believe you were forced to work for him -- you are urged to contact the Sheriff's Office.  Please call, 1-888-988-TIPS or you may call 911.

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