Former Insurance Co. Employee Sentenced For Identity Theft

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A former health insurance company employee was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for stealing more than 50 customer identities from her former job.

Quinzella Romer, 39, previously pled guilty to one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices, in this case social security numbers which had been issued to other people.

The investigation in Romer began April 8th, 2014 when she was pulled over by Coral Springs police for a traffic stop. When the officer called it in, it came back that Romer had an outstanding arrest warrant for petit theft.

During a pat down search, police found Romer had a Florida driver's license in another person's name and a cellular phone. After obtaining a search of Romer's phone found more 20 screenshots containing more than 50 names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth of health insurance customers.

Romer was employed as a Short-Term Disability Benefit Manager at a health insurance company from June, 2007 until August, 2013. Investigators determined that the screenshots were taken from her work station at the company.

Further investigation revealed that 12 of the names and social security numbers found in Romer's phone were victims of tax-related identity theft for tax year 2013. The tax returns claimed refunds of $38,196, and the IRS actually paid $16,264.

In addition to the prison time, Romer was ordered to was ordered to pay back the money she got from the IRS.