Student, 17, Gets 3 Years in Identity Theft Scheme

A 17-year-old honor student was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for an identity theft scheme in which she bought computers and a weapon over the Internet.

Joyce Leung entered a no-contest plea to 13 counts, including 10 of identify theft and one each of evading a police officer, grand theft auto and possession of a firearm by a minor, said Sandi Gibbons of the district attorney’s office.

Superior Court Judge Theodore Piatt in Pomona also ordered Leung to pay restitution to at least 46 people, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Michele Hanisee.

She said the teenager used other people’s identities to apply for bank loans; attempt to wire cash transactions; and buy computers, an automatic handgun, police and credit card scanners, and a camera, among other goods.