Posted: 5/8/02

North Branch woman tied to kiting scheme

A North Branch woman faces felony charges related to an alleged kiting scheme in Forest Lake and Roseville, police in Forest Lake said this week.

Moualee H. Kottke, 29, of 40613 Fahrion Ct. N., will be charged in Ramsey County in a criminal case that will combine evidence in Forest Lake and Roseville, Forest Lake investigator Kirby Siewert said.

Police here arrested Kottke on April 25 following a report from a St. Paul woman, 29, who said she received notification of a loan payments from Wells Fargo Bank in Forest Lake. The woman told police she had never taken out the loan.

According to the police investigation, Kottke is alleged to have taken out several loans totalling some $70,000 in an attempt to pay off other loans, police said.

The loan taken out in the name of the St. Paul woman was a personal loan of $16,000 on April 10 which was later deposited in a TCF account in Forest Lake, police said. Police said the North Branch woman is alleged to have used more than one name to secure loans at banks in Roseville and Forest Lake.

Charges could include felony fraud and felony identity theft, police said.

Other police news

In other crime news, police in Forest Lake have received a rash of reports of thefts from vehicles and break-ins to vehicles at dealerships west of I-35.

Chief of Police David Schwartz said on Tuesday the department is investigating a half dozen reports from dealerships where customer cars and dealership vehicles have been hit. The thefts involve stereo equipment and video cassette players from vans.

Police are also investigating a series of thefts from vehicles throughout the city. ìItís an ongoing problem,î the chief said.

Vehicles in various locations are being hit with personal belongings and stereo systems the main targets, he said.

Police are investigating a residential burglary from the 5500 block of 180th St. N. on May 2. The homeowner reported the loss of tools and a table saw valued at $1000 during the daytime crime. Entrance was gained through a patio door, police said.

A Forest Lake man was arrested on several charges after he was stopped by city police at 1:43 a.m., Saturday, May 4. Police were responding to a call from the public about a possible drunk driver.

When Richard A. Levasseur, 21, was stopped on southbound US-61 at 11th Ave., he was charged with felony possession of narcotics, methamphetamine, and for gross misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. Police said Levasseurís driverís license was also revoked.

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