Salem Police Arrest Two in Identity Theft Ring

Michael Joshua Ruiz and Beth Louise Nicolet

(SALEM) - Salem Police detectives arrested 27-year old Michael Joshua Ruiz of Keizer and 39-year old Beth Louise Nicolet of Salem, as a result of an investigation into an Identity Theft ring.

Ruiz and Nicolet were located at the Super 8 Motel in Woodburn and a search warrant was served on that room, in which laptop computers, counterfeit checks, stolen checks, drugs and a loaded handgun were found.

Ruiz was arrested for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Forgery 1, Criminal Possession of a Forgery Device and 13 counts of Identity Theft.

Ruiz was also arrested for Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle stemming from the theft of a 2007 Chevy Tahoe from Capitol Chevrolet which occurred in May, 2006. This vehicle was being used as a mobile check manufacturing operation using a laptop computer and counterfeit checks which were found in it when it was recovered.

Nicolet was arrested for Forgery 1, Possession of a Forgery Device, 10 counts of Identity Theft and a violation of her parole.

Both Ruiz and Nicolet were booked into the Marion County Jail.

The investigation is still ongoing and more arrests are anticipated as additional suspects have been identified.