Woman Facing 16 Felony Charges For Using Her Children's Identities to Collect Unemployment

Woman Facing 16 Felony Charges For Using Her Children’s Identities to Collect Unemployment

Rancho Cucamonga Man Arrested for Stealing Cell Phone at Knifepoint

Lake Elsinore Man Struck and Killed on I-10 Freeway in Bloomington

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Ca. – A San Bernardino woman is facing 16 felony charges associated with identity theft against her four children.

Ashley Darlene Kelly, 31, was arrested for using the personal information of her four children to receive unemployment benefits. The children’s father, Wesley Roczey, said that Kelly once was a good mother but her addictions led her to commit crimes in order to support her habit. Roczey said that he learned of the identity theft when a representative from the Employment Development Department (EDD) contacted him in September 2020 to inquire about two EDD accounts. During the call he was able to confirm all of the information, learning that there were accounts using all of his children’s information. He believed that the person responsible for the identity theft was the children’s estranged mother.

Roczey told a 24/7 Headline news reporter that their children’s ages are 12,10 7, and 6. He said that only the three oldest understand what their mother has done. The oldest child had to go to the bank and identify driver’s license photos and atm videos to identify his mother as the person using their identity. Due to her actions, the children’s health insurance was temporarily canceled until things were cleared up.

In addition to the unemployment fraud, Kelly also attempted to open credit cards in her children’s names. Kelly was arrested at a home in Riverside and was booked at the West Valley Detention Center. She was released from custody after posting bail on Thursday, February 4, 2021.

On Friday, February 5, 2021, Kelly the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office filed 16 felony charges including; eight counts of Identity Theft, four counts of Grand Theft Of Access Card Account Information, and four counts of False Statement, Representation Or Concealment to obtain unemployment insurance.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Rancho Cucamonga Sheriff’s Station. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information at www.wetip.com.