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Kalispell Woman Admits Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft Charges

A Kalispell woman has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft after using stolen personal information from patient records at a local hospital to activate and misuse credit cards. The case highlights the growing concern of healthcare-related identity theft.

Alecia Mae Leonetti, 50, admitted to the charges on December 20, 2024, in a courtroom in Missoula, Montana. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she was involved in a scheme that ran from September to December 2020, in which she activated and used stolen credit and debit cards to make fraudulent purchases.

Details of the Scheme

Leonetti’s co-defendant, Krista Hall, had been employed at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, now known as Logan Health, where she had access to sensitive patient records. It was in this role that Hall allegedly helped Leonetti by providing the personal identifying information of cardholders. With this information, Leonetti was able to activate the stolen cards and use them for purchases or to withdraw cash.

One of the fraudulent transactions involved Leonetti using the personal details of a Glacier Bank cardholder to activate their credit card. She admitted to making over $2,400 worth of purchases at local Kalispell businesses in just two days in September 2020.

Russell Smith Courthouse Montana

In court documents, prosecutors detailed how Leonetti relied on Hall to access the patient data, highlighting a serious breach of trust within the healthcare system.

Leonetti, who faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, will be sentenced on April 24, 2025. She also faces hefty fines and supervised release following her sentence.

What’s Next for Krista Hall?

While Leonetti has admitted guilt, Krista Hall, who was employed at the hospital during the scheme, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hall’s case remains pending, and her trial will likely bring more details to light about the full extent of the fraud operation.

Hall’s involvement in the case raises concerns about the vulnerability of healthcare institutions to insider threats. With medical facilities storing vast amounts of personal and financial data, the incident shines a spotlight on the need for tighter security measures in these institutions.

Legal Consequences and Investigations

Leonetti’s guilty plea brings a sense of closure to part of the investigation, but the case is far from over. The FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

Both Leonetti and Hall’s actions have sparked concerns over how easily personal information can be misused, especially when insiders with access to sensitive data are involved. The growing trend of identity theft linked to healthcare records is a reminder of how vulnerable personal data can be when proper safeguards aren’t in place.

A Look Ahead

Leonetti’s sentencing is scheduled for April 2025, but the case is likely to continue drawing attention as it highlights the risks of insider fraud in healthcare settings. It also raises questions about the broader implications for identity theft and data breaches within the medical industry.

The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the courts will handle the case against Hall. For now, the Kalispell community and the healthcare industry as a whole will be watching closely to see what lessons are learned from this disturbing case of fraud and data misuse.

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