ID Theft Suspect Appears in Court
A suspect alleged to be connected to a possible identify theft ring appeared in Jefferson County Court on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.
On Tuesday, November 21, 2023, following a nearly yearlong investigation, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles Fraud Investigations Unit, in conjunction with the Jefferson and Saline County Sheriff Offices, Crete Police Department and the Omaha Office of Homeland Security Investigations, served arrest warrants in Fairbury and Crete, Nebraska. A total of eleven individuals were arrested on violations of Nebraska State Statutes for criminal impersonation and identity theft and transported to local county jails.
All those arrested had at least one alias.
However, not all of the suspects were arrested that day. Dunia A. Orellana Sorto, alias Jessica Hernandez, age 37, of Crete, was not arrested during the initial sweep. An arrest warrant was issued for her. She later turned herself in.
Orellana Sorto appeared in court with her attorney, Mandy Trout.
The defendant is charged with identity theft, a class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and criminal impersonation, a class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Because one of the charges is a felony, the defendant has a right to a preliminary hearing. The majority of Orellana Sorto’s co-defendants are represented by attorney Nathan C. Dallon of Hatch and Dallon, LLC, of Omaha, and waived their right to a preliminary hearing and their cases were bound over to District Court. Orellana Sorto, however, is represented by attorney Mandy Marie Trout of Omaha, who requested a continuance. According to Trout, a possible plea agreement is being negotiated with the state that will keep the case in county court.
Judge Bauer granted the continuance. Another hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2024.
Orellana Sorto remains free on a $50,000 (10 percent) bond.
Portions of the court files for all defendants remain under seal to protect the ongoing investigation.
Warrants remain outstanding for Juan C. Garcia (alias Juan Hernandez Francisco Sebastion) and Elias Perez Vicente (Jose Luis Cardenas and Juan Carlos Morales Hernandez).
