Former real estate employee facing identity theft charges

Tribune Staff Report

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Nicola Jo Symonds faces several charges in identity theft related crimes.

Nicola Jo Symonds faces several charges in identity theft related crimes. (Photo provided)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Sep 11, 2008 at 9:55 AM EST

Story Updated: Sep 11, 2008 at 12:53 PM EST

Police believe a former mortgage and real estate employee used her access to personal information to apply for credit cards in other people’s names, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Nicola Jo Symonds, 40, of St. Joseph faces six felony charges in connection with the crimes and police are asking anyone who may have had real estate connections with her and discovered they were victims of identity theft to call authorities.

The sheriff’s department and FBI office in St. Joseph received two separate complaints regarding Symonds. The victims, who had supplied personal information to the woman during real estate transactions, discovered that someone had applied for credit cards in their name and used the cards to complete balance transfers, police said.

An investigation reportedly linked the balance transfers to Symonds.

She was employed by Landmark Properties Redevelopment and a Chicago-based mortgage company at the time of the incidents, police said, and is believed to have worked at a real estate office in the New Buffalo/Union Pier area.

Any identity theft victims who had dealings with Symonds should contact Berrien County Detective Sgt. Mike Danneffel.

Tuesday, Sep 30 at 5:50 AM worried wrote ...

I do not think that she should have been able to plead down - with the way the economy is these days - we all need our credit & not let people like her take it away and get away with it!!!! It is not fair!

Thursday, Sep 25 at 8:47 AM anonymous wrote ...

She pled DOWN to the unlawful use of a computer that is the only reason the ID Theft was dropped - she made a plea deal. I am sure her lawyers told her to do that to get less time on a sentence. People do it all the time. Doesn't make her innocent of ID Theft.

Friday, Sep 19 at 3:32 PM brittney wrote ...

it's a shame that you will put this stuff in but not report how the ID Theft charges got dropped and her only crime is unlawful use of a computer, you should all be ashamed

Friday, Sep 19 at 3:03 PM Nicola Symonds wrote ...

Charges of Identity Theft were dropped today.It's a shame that the public can comment on things like this without all the facts.I can see that some of you may not understand what I have to say about you so you might want to grab a dictionary. Those of you who had unkind words should know that you only showed your lack of intelligence,You are as immoral and unethical as you claimed me to be. I saved everyone of my clients money, as they know. Clean your own porch before bringing a broom to mine.

Monday, Sep 15 at 1:48 PM concerned St. Joe wrote ...

I am very concerned that there are more people out there that have been ripped off, including myself! I personally know her husband and he had nothing to do with this. He is a good man and he did not leave her for another woman, although he probably should have a long time ago. I feel sorry for her children. Wise up Nicki life is too short for this crap!!

Monday, Sep 15 at 9:59 AM worried wrote ...

to am st joe, i dont use credit cards to pay for things, and most realtors are like used car salespeople! pushy, rude, think they know more than the person they are trying to sell to! they try to convince you you want something you dont. sorry thats the the way i feel , i bet you are an "agent" regardless, this is wrong and she needs to be punished.

Sunday, Sep 14 at 12:20 AM Grit wrote ...

I don't give a crap what happened in her personal life. Crime is about lack of character, not circumstances. A lot of people have trouble, and don't steal. It's not like she typed the wrong number in somewhere, hit the wrong key, or dropped a page from a file in a crowded bank foyer- she stole from people in a way that will hurt them for years, and she did it on purpose. If you want to pity anyone, feel sorry for her victims. She might have forced people into bankruptcy, not that she cares.

Saturday, Sep 13 at 9:43 PM YEAH wrote ...

Yeah I hope she gets some help also....while she's sitting in the jailhouse.

Saturday, Sep 13 at 4:54 PM ANONYMOUS!!! wrote ...

THANKS,(MAD)AT LEAST SOME PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THE KIDS AND THE HUSBAND WILL SUFFER FROM THIS AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE JUDGED FOR SOMEONE ELSES POOR JUDGMENT.HOPEFULLY NIKKI CAN GET SOME HELP. IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE DID THIS OUT OF DESPRERATION. BUT, AT THE SAME TIME SHE DIDN'T STOP TO THINK SHE WAS HURTING OTHER PEOPLES CREDIT. MONEY CAN MAKE YOU DO SOME EVIL THINGS!

Saturday, Sep 13 at 2:55 PM mad wrote ...

I agree anonymous - the husband and kids do not have anything to do with it - she did this on her own and they probably did not even know about it.

Saturday, Sep 13 at 5:38 AM ANONYMOUS !!!! wrote ...

COME ON PEOPLE, WHAT DOES THE HUSBAND HAVE TO DO WITH HER CRIME? SHE ALSO WORKED FOR AVALON ,IN STEVENSVILLE,MI.

Saturday, Sep 13 at 12:24 AM mad wrote ...

How come it is the guy that always gets blamed? How do you know that he did not just go to work & she was messing around on him? Do you really think that he knew about it? Really, wake up - some women are just plain sick - i feel sorry for him!!!!

Friday, Sep 12 at 11:55 PM GIVE IT TO HER wrote ...

You're busted lady. It's now time to pay the piper.

Friday, Sep 12 at 5:29 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Giggity!

Friday, Sep 12 at 5:09 PM Just one word from GHFJR wrote ...

GREEDY

Friday, Sep 12 at 8:33 AM Lainey wrote ...

Seriously Renee??? People's husbands leave them every day - that's no excuse. Hmm, lets see. Today my husband cheated on me. I know! I'll go steal some identities! That'll show him! Please. I do not sympathize.

Friday, Sep 12 at 8:31 AM St Joe wrote ...

Hey Worried, its not just realtors all of a sudden because this happened. You give your credit card to your waitress tonight, a clerk at the mall tomorrow, purchase something online, and anyone of them could steal your identity. I caught a bartender taking a pic of my crad with his cell phone and made management get him and delete the picture. This was in a restaurant. So, don't knock an entire profession on one persons account.

Friday, Sep 12 at 4:50 AM joeates wrote ...

Anonymous- thats a bad idea half of these dolts can't even spell I'm suprised they can use a pc.

Friday, Sep 12 at 4:47 AM b wrote ...

compassion- How could you fell bad for this devil in a red dress, I bet she dosn't fell bad for the people's lives and credit scores she screwed for the next 10 years. Put a bandade on your bleeding heart. Ps- Our justice system works by " ajury of your peers judging you" so maybe you just don't like America maybe you should move to mexico if its so bad here.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 9:15 PM Bobby Boy wrote ...

I guess spending time in prison for cocain usage, did not do the trick. I just hope Nicki and her silent partner ( A ? ) get whats coming to them!!!!

Thursday, Sep 11 at 9:13 PM compassion wrote ...

It saddens me, that you people can sit in judgement of someone. Im curious if your closets are clean. Maybe you should have compassion for her family and friends. I feel more sorry for all of you in the sense that you can sit here and judge someone without looking in the mirror despite how clean your closets are. Get a life and leave this woman alone you hypicrits!

Thursday, Sep 11 at 9:00 PM WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL wrote ...

Wake up Justice System! I don't care what kind of problems this woman is dealing with. She is ruining peoples lives and needs to be dealt with. She is just another CRIMINAL. I'd give her some time in a low security type prison to think about how much pain she caused people. Nicola, you gola to jaila.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 5:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

They need to enable images on these forums. Let's see how Michiana can photoshop!

Thursday, Sep 11 at 5:39 PM LEE wrote ...

I FILL SORRY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT GOT HER BY THIS LADY.SHE NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL FOR LIFE SHE DID WROUG.SHE NEEDS MORE THEN LIPSTICK SHE NEEDS A MAKE OVER.I THINK HER HUSBAND WAS IN ON IT TO. NOW DAYS YOU CANT TRUST ANY ONE NOW DAYS.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 5:31 PM didntgetkissedfirst wrote ...

Marine Mom brings up a good point. Check your credit report free every year. In fact, you can check all three reporting agencies free once a year. Do what I do ... I check one every four months, that way you get three free reports.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 5:17 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Landmark? Any connection with the Landmark new age scam run by rick ross?

Thursday, Sep 11 at 4:56 PM Renee Sloan wrote ...

I feel sorry for this young lady. It seems that her husband left her for another woman thats why she did what she did. Can we caunt on her for a confession of why she jeopardize peoples identity and now their credit is ruined. I cannot buy a house or get a credit card for seven years because of some idiot stealing my identity and then using the money for gambling addition in Las Vegas. Those hotels and motels are built with dirty money that people robbed from customers. Is that fair?

Thursday, Sep 11 at 4:39 PM Trebor wrote ...

A woman in desperate need for God!!!

Thursday, Sep 11 at 3:41 PM concerned wrote ...

i read the news paper and it stated that she worked for Landmark Properties Redevelopment and another one in New Buffalo but i see by others that she worked for avalon brokers was she using another name is this why they did not say that she worked for them? Has she used other names when applying for positions and i may be at risk. I did not use any of these companies but i have used others to sell my home, was she in there offices and i did not know it?????

Thursday, Sep 11 at 3:17 PM WORRIED wrote ...

i trusted this woman when she worked at avalon brokers!! any one else that used avalon check your accounts !!no one checked her back ground before hiring her ?? come on she has access to very personal records isnt the offices where she worked some what at fault to?? with the housing market the way it is now i will not deal with a realtor, more so now with this

Thursday, Sep 11 at 3:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

She also worked for Avalon Brokers between 2-3 years ago. Anyone who has done business before or during that time be aware you are at risk.Since she was an agent/broker for them she had unsupervised time with files and your personal information. Check and keep checking ! Good luck

Thursday, Sep 11 at 3:00 PM Barry wrote ...

Love her new glamour shot photo courtesy of the law. I always wondered why real estate female employees think they are glamour pusses. Do they ever look in the mirror? There are so many scary loking real estate women.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 1:07 PM Anonymous wrote ...

REAL ESTATE AGENTS. BUY EM FOR WHAT THEIR WORTH, SELL EM FOR WHAT THEY THINK THEIR WORTH.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 12:30 PM AK wrote ...

Looks like she was selling more than real estate, if you catch my drift...

Thursday, Sep 11 at 11:32 AM No Trust wrote ...

It's becoming a world where noone can be trusted. How many times have we filled out applications or information sheets presuming the information would be confidential. And these are just the cases that we're aware of. Technology is great but I think we moved too forward too fast. Look at all the hackers, etc. What next?

Thursday, Sep 11 at 11:25 AM A Marine Mom wrote ...

Just a reminder that we should all stop and think before we give out that type of information, even if you think it's a secure reason, keep a lookout on those credit reports! You can get a copy free once a year, or anytime you apply for credit.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 11:18 AM ts wrote ...

hope the wasnt sexist (not)

Thursday, Sep 11 at 11:02 AM Heidi Dade wrote ...

Is she additec to gambling? Why is it that a real state broker do this to their clients? They used to scream at low wages may be that was one of the reasons she was stealing someone elses identity. I hope it wasn t mine. I have to check all my bank accounts, the credit cards and savings that could be involved. I wonder what her husband has to say about this. If she is not honest with the public s money, how could she be honest with his account? I hope she finds Jesus in her life and the light...

Thursday, Sep 11 at 10:55 AM ts wrote ...

you can put lipstick on a pig, but guess what, it is still a pig.

Thursday, Sep 11 at 10:28 AM Rocky wrote ...

Just wonderful!

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