Addicts turning to white-collar crime

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Authorities say drug addicts are increasingly turning to white-collar crime to get the cash they need to support their habit.<br/><br/>Assistant Secret Service Agent Jeff Shelton

Monday, July 11th 2005, 6:31 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Authorities say drug addicts are increasingly turning to white-collar crime to get the cash they need to support their habit.

Assistant Secret Service Agent Jeff Shelton says half of all crimes worked by a federal identity theft task force in his office have a link to drugs.

He says meth use and identity theft are a good match because people high on meth can stay awake for days and have the focus to execute white-collar crimes. He says they're often willing to piece together sacks of shredded documents or dive through trash bins to search for personal information.

Oklahoma County Assistant District Attorney Peter Haddock says his office has seen a dramatic increase in drug users funding their habit through white-collar crime.