A Miami Jewish community services worker was arrested on identity theft charges after authorities say she sold Holocaust survivors' personal information for $1,000.
Crystal Thorne, 23, an employee of the Jewish Community Services of South Florida in North Miami, was arrested Saturday, according to the U.S. State Attorney's Office.
Authorities say Thorne had access to names, addresses and social security numbers of people in the group's Holocaust Survivors Assistance Program through her job, and had offered that info to an informant, who contacted the North Miami Police.
In a recorded call, Thorne told the informant she had the personal information of 30 Holocaust survivors she was willing to sell for $1,000, the State Attorney's Office said.
The informant met Thorne in a car on Saturday, and exchanged the stolen information for the cash. The informant told Thorne he was going to use the stolen identities to file fraudulent tax returns, the State Attorney's Office said.
Thorne was arrested and was still in federal custody as of Monday. It was unknown whether she has an attorney.
JCS President Fred Stock released a statement Tuesday, saying they were cooperating with authorities and were "shocked" to learn about the arrest of Thorne, who had been employed there for three years.
"The leadership of JCS is deeply concerned about this violation against its clients and the agency and will continue to work to resolve this matter expeditiously," Stock said.
Stock said Thorne has been suspended without pay pending the outcome of the investigation, and said JCS has already begun notifying potentially affected clients and will work with them to put measures in place to further protect their personal information.
