Springs Police: Widespread Identity Theft Ring Busted

A multistate identification theft, forgery and drug operation ring was shut down by Colorado Springs Police Wednesday.

Twenty five people were arrested, 5 of them locally, on charges relating to crimes stretching across six states.

Police identified the ringleaders as Lawrence “Worm” Purtzer, 30, and Cody “Crack Head” Harders, 21.

The pair and their group are also accused of stealing cars and check fraud. Police said they’ve identified 230 victims taken for more than $250,000. In the past year alone, while the investigation was being conducted, police said they discovered 50 cases of theft. Police said it took that long to build their case and identify their suspects.

“They’re using false identifications,” said Larry Herbert, a spokesman for the Colorado Springs Police Department. “We have to be able to make sure we get each person positively identified, and it does take a long time to investigate each case and tie each of those cases together.”

Herbert said it’s good for the community to have 50 local theft cases cleared at once with the completion of this case.

“It’s going to have a significant impact,” said Herbert. “Any time you can close that many cases and help victims get their identity back, it’s a good thing for the community.”

Herbert said getting money back from these thefts could take a long time. It’s contingent on a guilty conviction and the ability for victims to tie their robberies into this crime ring.

Three others were arrested and are being held at the Criminal Justice Center in El Paso County. It’s not clear if Kevin Brunt, 23, Shawna Patt, 23, and Paige Zorens, 20, face all or some of the same charges as Purtzer and Harders.

Cody Harders

Lawrence Purtzer

Kevin Brunt

Paige Zorens

Shawna Patt