Police: Greenport woman's social security number stolen in '88, ID thief found

An investigation that began when a Greenport, Columbia County woman had trouble applying for a mortgage has been traced back to an identity theft transaction that occurred 21 years ago, State Police say.

During an eight-month investigation, State Police discovered 57-year-old Noreen Perry, a resident alien from Guyana who has been living in Queens, New York City, purchased the Greenport woman's social security number for $100 in 1988, and has been using it since then.

Perry was able to obtain a $300,000 mortgage for the home she currently lives in using the stolen social security number sometime between 1988 and 2002, police say.

Perry was arrested in New York City on a felony charge of first-degree identity theft. She was turned over to State Police at Livingston, and arraigned in Greenport Town Court. She remains in Columbia County Jail on $20,000 cash bail.