Rob La Gatta is a Seattle-based writer who covers local crime at Seattle Crime Blog (www.seattlecrimeblog.com) with fellow journalist Mike Baldwin. They can be reached at seattlecrime@gmail.com.

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Mother/Daughter Combo Arrested in Student Loan Scandal

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June 11, 3:28 PM

by Rob La Gatta & Mike Baldwin, Seattle Crime Examiner

By Seattle Crime Blog reporter Mike Baldwin

A mother/daughter student loan scandal has been uncovered by the U.S. Attorney's Working Group on I.D. Theft.

Kathy Hardy and her daughters Theresa Hardy and Leslie Gordon of Renton were arrested after applying for $2.2 million in student loans and receiving $690,000 from the federal government.

The trio was apparently using stolen identities to pose as students to attain the loans, and then was using the money for their own fun.

Any time someone defrauds a U.S. government agency, two things pop in to my head. One, how did the government not realize something was going on, and two, how is this going to affect legitimate students trying to get real help.

These women deserve to get a high sentence. The government, although stating it will try to recover as much as the money as possible, is not going to get anywhere near $690,000 back. Thieves don't steal simply to keep the money in their bank accounts.

It also surprises me how easy identity theft is. I'm guessing this trio was not exactly pushing the 150's on the I.Q. test. I think that's what makes identity theft such a scary crime. Anybody can do it. And it's only a matter of time until someone is victimized.

Let's hope these women get soem real education behind bars.

Topics: Robbery

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Sick coward films sexual assault in Kirkland

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October 6, 11:49 PM

An intruder who tied up a 63-year-old woman in Kirkland in order to take pictures of himself sexually assaulting her is still on the loose.The coward of a man who decided to the commit this act was apparently armed with a knife and was wearing ... Read More
Topics: Sexual Assault , Criminals , Kirkland

Abandoned child reunited with Iraq-destined father

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October 6, 11:23 PM

Mariah Verle Stevens, the infant who was abadoned by her mother last week at a Federal Way church, has been united with her father, Clark Stevens.Stevens was apparently not aware that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant, as he was training with his National... Read More
Topics: Mariah Verle Stevens , Clarke Stevens , Abandoned

Father of infant in fire pit death gets two years

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October 5, 10:47 PM

41-year-old AlbertoRios, the man who's infant son fell into a fire pit and burned alive, has been sentenced to two years in prison.Rios fell asleep after consuming "six to nine beers" during a barbeque with coworkers, while holding his seventh-month... Read More
Topics: Alberto Rios , Infant Death , Manslaughter

Police don't have to pay for damage during raids

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October 3, 7:48 AM

The state Supreme Court, in a split decision, ruled Thursday that police departments do not have to pay for damage accrued to propery during drug raids.Leo Burtsche was asking for $5,000 in damages to properties he owned that were damaged by police in... Read More
Topics: meth lab , drug raid , Kent police

Isaac Zamora charged with six counts of aggravated murder

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September 29, 6:01 PM

Isaac Zamora, the mentally ill man who terrorized a neighborhood in Skagit County, killing six people in the process, has been charged with six counts of aggravated murder, amongst other charges.Aggravated murder of the first-degree is the only crime... Read More
Topics: Murder , Washington Law , Seattle Crime , Isaac Zamora , Skagit County , Shooting Spree

Lake Washington boating death leaving more questions than answers

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September 28, 11:23 PM

The collision between a speed boat and a sailboat on Lake Washington that left a 37-year-old woman dead has captivated local media, but left more questions than answers as to what really happaned.What we do know is that a speedboat piloted... Read More
Topics: Lake Washington boating death

Man arrested for DUI...for 14th time

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September 28, 3:02 PM

Most of us can agree that people deserve a second chance. After all, you learn best from your own mistakes.Mr. Aaron Bridge of Mount Vernon apparently does not believe in not letting history repeat itself.The 46-year-old was arrested... Read More
Topics: Seattle Crime , Aaron Bridge , DUI

14,000 pounds of cocaine seized by Seattle Coast Guard unit

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September 20, 1:04 PM

A Seattle-based coast guard unit captured a submarine carrying 7 tons of cocaine off the coast of the Mexico-Guatemala border on Friday according to reports from the U.S. Coast Guard.The crew of the Seattle based Midgett boarded the sub after subduing... Read More

Amanda Knox Finally Going to Trial

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September 16, 7:42 AM

Amanda Knox, the now infamous former University of Washington student who has been accused of assisting in the murder of her British roomate, Meredith Kercher, is finally having a judge review evidence in the case in order to decide if Knox, her Italian... Read More
Topics: Murder , Justice System , Amanda Knox