Broomfield Group Accused Of Stealing From 77 People, 52 Companies

BROOMFIELD, CO — Nine Broomfield residents are accused of stealing from 77 people and 52 companies in the Denver area, according to the Denver District Attorney's Office. The group stole mail and used it to open credit cards in other people's names, an indictment shows.

The group used stolen products, cars and money to buy heroin and methamphetamine, authorities said.

The team stole at least a dozen vehicles, including a Porsche 911 and Audi S3, worth a total of $294,000, according to the indictment.

They also stole a semiautomatic handgun, a vape kit, electronic devices, prescription drugs and numerous other items worth more than $60,000, prosecutors said.

“Many agencies were involved in bringing this case forward and I would like to specifically acknowledge the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Broomfield Police Department, the Sheridan Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service as well as the members of the grand jury for their hard work,” said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann. “This case is yet another example of what can happen when drug addiction spins out of control.”

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The ring is accused of using stolen documents from the mail and from garage burglaries to open credit accounts in their victim’s names with credit unions and with a casino in Black Hawk, according to the Denver District Attorney's Office. Those fraudulent accounts were then used to purchase gift cards and merchandise, prosecutors said.

The group faces a total of 126 felony counts, including identity theft, forgery, aggravated motor vehicle theft, burglary, criminal trespass and possession of a controlled substance.

Defendants: Maren Raquel Gasser, 30, Jonathan Wray Hovey, 39, Matthew Wade Turkett, 30, Brett Alan Cravens, 27, Kasee Rae Dela-Torre, 28, John Christopher Garcia, 26, Cory Roger Halvorson, 42, Joseph James King, 33 and Sara Marie Lore, 37.

All nine people shared money, food, clothing and a house in Broomfield to commit the crimes, the prosecutor's office said.

Halvorson and Lore tried to run over a Sheridan police detective in February, prosecutors said, but fled before they were arrested. Halvorson is charged with criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree for the incident.