Warrant: Texas Man Made off with $14,000 in Rochester Identity Theft Scheme

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- An arrest warrant has been issued for a Texas who is now charged in a Rochester identity theft case. 

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The warrant complaint was filed in Olmsted County Court on Tuesday. Rochester police began investigating last August. 

The victim has fallen prey to an identity thief in the past, the warrant says. 

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Over $14K Stolen From Victim in Rochester Identity Theft Case, Warrant Issued for Suspect

Banking records showed a $14,500 transfer from the victim’s Mayo Credit Union card to a bank in Texas last July, according to the complaint. 

After conducting a credit check on himself, the victim found an Anaheim, CA address and 507 phone number he did not recognize, the court document says. 

In September, police learned the victim’s money had been transferred to a Caesars Rewards Visa Card. Investigators connected the card to an account owned by 65-year-old John Thuan Tran of Richardson, TX, according to the warrant. 

A records check indicated Tran had a previous address that matches the address the victim found during his self-credit check, the complaint states. 

Rochester police tried to call Tran three times and left messages but have not yet received a response, the court document says. 

Tran is charged with one count of identity theft. Authorities charged Tran via warrant because he lives in Texas and has not returned law enforcement phone calls, which indicate he would not likely appear by summons, according to the warrant.