Authorities say a New York City-based identity theft ring victimized more than 200 people nationwide, including Fort Hood soldiers whose information was stolen as they served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Police and prosecutors say 19 people were charged this week with enterprise corruption and grand larceny.
They say the ringleaders encouraged members to steal mail around Staten Island, and would also obtain Social Security Information and other details about victims around the country.
They would open credit cards and steal money from home equity line of credit accounts.
Some of the victims were soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Police say one soldier returned home at Christmas to find his bank account emptied. The money has been replaced.
On average, up to 10 million Americans a year deal with identity theft.