Records Show Tulsa Identity Theft Suspect Has Long Criminal History

Police say 42-year-old Tammy Petit was the ring leader of a sophisticated operation, with victims in Oklahoma and several other states.

And it's no surprise when you look at Petit's criminal history. Records show Tammy Petit has as many aliases as she does convictions. Her record with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections is extensive, dating back to 1997 for drugs, which investigators say was the motivation behind the ID theft ring.

The Tulsa County Sheriff's Office says Petit told them she's served time for forgery and identity theft in Arkansas. She currently has an active arrest warrant out of Arkansas for bogus checks. However, Arkansas refused to extradite her.

4/8/2013 Related Story: Hundreds May Be Victims Of Tulsa Identity Theft Ring

In Tulsa County, she was convicted of false impersonation in 2000, and sentenced to two years. In 2006, she was convicted of writing numerous bogus checks and forgery. She was sentenced to four years in prison. Petit was released in 2008, and investigators believe she immediately went back to her old ways.

"They're not just creating victims in Tulsa County, but in surrounding counties, as well as surrounding states," said Major Tom Huckeby.

Investigators say Petit admitted she builds an identity based on whatever information she can get: a name, an address, a birth date. Then, she creates a driver's license, so she can get a Social Security card. Eventually, she gains access to money through forged checks, targeting both individuals and businesses.

"That's all they do; rip off the system. Rip off you, then go after the system," Huckeby said.

Petit told investigators that, in 2009, she made more than $1 million through fraud. Four years later, she's listed as homeless on the Tulsa County jail website.

Three other people were arrested with Petit. David Holland has served time for drug convictions in Oklahoma. Records show Michael Prather has a few traffic tickets. And Jeanna Edwards lost a civil lawsuit over debt she owed to a clinic.

So far, fraud charges have only been filed on Petit.