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NJ Woman Sentenced For Using Dead Aunt's Identity

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a Jersey City woman who used her dead aunt's identity to make fraudulent credit card purchases and empty the woman's bank accounts has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Jocelyn Russo had pleaded guilty last November to bank fraud. Under the sentence imposed Friday, she will have to pay $33,289 in restitution and serve five years of supervised release after she's freed from prison.

After her aunt died, the 37-year-old Russo called three banks and used the dead woman's identity and personal information to add her own name to her aunt's credit and bank accounts.

Russo then made several large purchases of clothing, shoes, jewelry and other items that she did not pay off.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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