Stephanie Laugier and Thierno Barry Indicted in Alleged Scheme to Drain Coloradans' Home Equity Lines With Fake IDs

Published Oct. 21, 2026. Case status is current as of that date.

A home equity line of credit can sit untouched for years, which may be what makes it a target. According to a Colorado statewide grand jury indictment, a woman walked into banks and credit unions from the mountains to the Denver suburbs carrying fake state ID cards, presented herself as the real account holders of home equity lines, and walked out with cash or bank checks made out to someone in another state.

On Oct. 6, 2026, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that the statewide grand jury had indicted Stephanie Laugier, 27, and Thierno Barry, 29, for allegedly carrying out the bank fraud scheme during the summer of 2025 [1]. Each is charged with 37 felony counts. Cities of residence were not given in the release.

Important: "A grand jury indictment is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime under Colorado laws. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty," the Attorney General's Office said [1].

Status: Indicted. Laugier was apprehended and is in custody at the Ouachita Correctional Center in Louisiana; Barry is still at large, according to the release. The case was filed in Denver District Court on July 31 (case number 2026CR15098) and recently unsealed [1].

How the alleged scheme worked

According to the grand jury indictment, as summarized by the Attorney General's Office [1]:

1. The impersonation. Laugier allegedly traveled to several banks or credit unions and used a fraudulent state ID card to falsely present herself to staff as the legitimate holder of a home equity line of credit (HELOC).
2. The withdrawal. Once at the bank, she allegedly withdrew thousands of dollars in cash and/or had a bank check issued in the name of another person living in another state, or in one case, a fraudulent business.
3. The shipping. The bank-issued checks were then allegedly sent overnight to out-of-state locations, where an out-of-state associate cashed or deposited them.
4. The fake businesses. Investigators also say the defendants used victims' personal identifying information to create fraudulent businesses through the Colorado Secretary of State's public filing system, around the same time as the bank thefts and without the victims' consent.

Targeted banks were in Arvada, Denver, Dillon, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont and Parker. Prosecutors say aggregate losses in Colorado exceeded $800,000 and attempted losses exceeded $300,000 [1].

Investigators obtained cell phone and rental vehicle evidence that they say put Barry in the general vicinity of many of the locations where the bank thefts occurred. The release says the alleged pattern of activity was seen "in Colorado and other states" [1].

The people charged

According to the Attorney General's Office, each defendant faces [1]:

• 2 counts under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (conspiracy and racketeering), class 2 felonies;
• 4 counts of class 4 felony theft and 4 counts of class 3 felony theft;
• 11 counts of identity theft (class 4 felonies);
• 11 counts of forgery of a government-issued document (class 5 felonies);
• 4 counts of criminal attempt to commit theft (class 4 felonies); and
• 1 count of money laundering (class 3 felony).

Stephanie Laugier, 27. Indicted; in custody in Louisiana. Presumed innocent.

Thierno Barry, 29. Indicted; at large. Presumed innocent.

"This case resulted from a Coloradan reaching out to our office with a report of fraudulent activity, followed by our team getting to work to identify the wrongdoers," Weiser said [1]. The AG's Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting, with investigative work by the Dillon-Keystone, Denver and Longmont police departments and contributions from Arvada, Parker and Littleton police.

Why HELOCs are attractive targets

Unlike a checking account, a home equity line may have a large available balance and little day-to-day activity, so an unauthorized draw might not be noticed until a statement arrives or the account holder tries to use it. And because the scheme alleged here depended on in-person withdrawals with a convincing ID, it targeted the step where banks rely on staff to match a face to a document.

Red flags

• A HELOC draw, bank check or cash withdrawal you didn't make, especially at a branch you don't use.
• Bank checks issued to people or businesses you don't know.
• Notices from the Secretary of State or the IRS about a business you never registered.
• Unexpected mail or calls from a bank confirming a branch visit or identity check.

What to do

1. Review HELOC statements every month, even if you aren't using the line, and set up account alerts for any draw.
2. Ask your bank about extra protections for in-person withdrawals, such as a verbal password, or consider freezing or closing a line you no longer need.
3. Check your state's business registry for filings in your name.
4. If you're a victim, contact your bank immediately, file a police report, and report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan [2]. The CFPB also has fraud resources for consumers [3].
5. In Colorado, the Attorney General's Office says this case started with one resident's report, so don't assume a report won't matter.

Case status (as of Oct. 21, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 21, 2026	Source
Stephanie Laugier, 27	Denver District Court (state), 2026CR15098	Indicted by statewide grand jury (filed July 31, unsealed, announced Oct. 6, 2026) on 37 felony counts; in custody in Louisiana; presumed innocent	[1]
Thierno Barry, 29	Denver District Court (state), 2026CR15098	Indicted on 37 felony counts; at large; presumed innocent	[1]

Statuses can change. Those not convicted are presumed innocent.

Sources

1. Colorado Attorney General, "Two charged with 37 felonies in bank fraud operation involving home equity line of credit accounts," Oct. 6, 2026. https://coag.gov/press-releases/two-charged-with-37-felonies-in-bank-fraud-operation-involving-home-equity-line-of-credit-accounts/
2. Federal Trade Commission, IdentityTheft.gov (accessed Oct. 21, 2026). https://www.identitytheft.gov/
3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, fraud and scams resources (accessed Oct. 21, 2026). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/fraud/

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