Emporian faces identity theft charges
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 01:15 p.m., November 1, 2007
Updated 01:15 p.m., November 1, 2007
Jennifer Jean Roblez, also known as Jennifer Juarez Robles, made a first appearance Monday afternoon in Lyon County District Court on three counts of identity theft and one count each of forgery and theft less than $1,000.
Roblez, who worked for The Gazette for several months this year, is accused of applying for credit cards in her name, while using the social security card number of Ashley B. Walker. Walker is projects editor for The Gazette and is wife of publisher Chris Walker.
Roblez also is accused of forgery for altering or endorsing a personal check bearing Ashley B. Walker’s name as owner of the account. The complaint filed in court states the action was not authorized by Walker.
The theft charge alleged in the complaint states that on Oct. 9, Roblez obtained Walker’s credit card and “did unlawfully and intentionally obtain or exert unauthorized control over property of the value of less than $1,000.”
In an affidavit filed in the case, Emporia Police Officer Jeffrey Illk wrote that Chris Walker had received a letter from the Bank of America Fraud Department advising that Jennifer Roblez had filed an online application for a Bank of America credit card, with the main applicant listed as Ashley Walker. A copy of the application showed that under “authorized users,” the name listed was that of Jennifer J. Roblez and the “embossed name” as Jennifer J. Roblez.
Roblez reportedly had her name legally changed to Jennifer Juarez Robles about 12 years ago.
“On Oct. 10, 2007, C. Walker reported he was told Roblez attempted to cash a check at Lyon County State Bank on Oct. 9, 2007. C. Walker stated he was told his wife’s name and signature were used,” Illk wrote in the affidavit. The check was in the amount of $1,600 from a Chase account.
Roblez also is accused of charging $50 on a Chase credit card belonging to Ashley Walker.
Roblez, who was arrested Oct. 25, remains in Lyon County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. Dawn Porter of Kansas Legal Services has been appointed her attorney by the court.
A preliminary hearing has been set for 2 p.m. Dec. 6 before Judge Jeffry Larson.
hottopics (anonymous) says...
It can happen to anyone. People like this make it hard for the rest of us. We have to shed our mail, not use our S.S.# on anything and watch our credit reports.
She deserves a good harsh lesson.
November 1, 2007 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
funston (anonymous) says...
Next time, hire a person with some integrity and moral education, instead of a commoner. It will cost you less money and trouble in the long run.
November 1, 2007 at 11:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
siamesefred (anonymous) says...
Funston, I'm not sure anyone from the Royal Family is applying to work at The Gazette. The Jennifer Roblez I know grew up in Emporia, graduated from Emporia High School and earned a college education. Is that common?
November 2, 2007 at 7:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Not only immoral, but you've got to be crazy to try a stunt like this, especially if you plan to use a name like the Walkers.
Also, I agree with hottopics. People like Jennifer Roblez make it difficult for all of us who have to be so extra careful about out identities and finances, having to shred everything.
The article did not state at what capacity she worked at the Gazette. I'm just curious.
November 2, 2007 at 11:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
I remember seeing her name under several articles. So, a staff writer/reporter, maybe.
Her name was Jennifer Robles in the articles.
M
November 2, 2007 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glarson (anonymous) says...
Jennifer Roblez was a part-time copy editor then full-time reporter. She also wrote a weekly column on the Editorial page.
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
November 2, 2007 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tosie (anonymous) says...
One would like to think that someone with an education and a career would only do this if she was really in trouble with her money or had something else going on at home or mentally. And in her home town....really nervy....It's hard to understand what she was thinking when she pulled that scam......
November 2, 2007 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thank you, Gwen. All day long I've been thinking that the name of Jennifer Roblez sounded familiar.
I can see where doing a background check before employing her would not have uncovered anything if this were her first offense. Oh what a tangled web we weave...
November 2, 2007 at 3:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Had she not worked at the Gazette, and had she not tried to scam the Walkers, do you suppose she would have had such an article written about the case? I highly doubt it would have been anywhere but in the Daily Report when she was arrested.
November 3, 2007 at 12:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
neighbor-I think you're on to it! Sounds like the paper trying to distance themselves from internal problems,and nothing more.
November 3, 2007 at 2:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I don't know if I agree with you two. Identity theft in a town the size of Emporia is still pretty big news whether it had happened with Gazette people or any other place in town. They've run stories in the past that related to embezzlement in other companies and organizations, and just didn't run them only in the Daily Report.
I agree with tre. We may see more involvement as the story unfolds.
November 3, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
No blulite, I disagree with your accessment. Had it happened to anyone else, and it happens daily across America, it wouldn't have included an editorial written by the victim before the arrest was made telling the details of the case. Then when the arrest was made, there would not have been a detailed description of how the victim perpetrated the crime. All this information could potentially sway a jury, put out to the general public that the jury will be picked from should it go to trial.
I think it's great that the criminal has been caught, and I can appreciate that the Walkers were willing to submit their personal business for public scrutiny, my point was that had it happened to you or me, it would not have made the news like it did for them.
I was hoping that their recent negative stories about hunting would make this comment suggestion. I looked on the main page of the website, neither article was included where one could comment on them. The only time The Gazette has anything positive about hunting is Phil Taunton's articles, or the special hunting insert that Dr. Bennett and friends put together each year. The over all majority of news articles about hunting are negative. The last two examples told about the shrinking numbers of Kansas hunters(how about a story about why that is happening?) and about a dog that knocked over it's owners gun causing it to go off shooting the hunter.
Even though they will deny being biased, their liberal ways and agenda shine brightly in their paper.
November 3, 2007 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )