APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Two months after two people were arrested for allegedly stealing hundreds of pieces of mail in what police called a fraud scheme, no charges have been filed in the case. And, despite the lack of new charges in that case, a request to reduce the bond for one of them was denied Tuesday.
Danika Viasana and Carl Breneman were arrested in early March after a traffic stop in Buchanan. Deputies said in the vehicle Viasana was driving, they found hundreds of pieces of mail — including two passports, dozens of tax-related documents, packages and personal checks. Deputies then searched a hotel room in Kimberly where the two were living, and found more stolen mail. Investigators believe Viasana was using the information in the mail to commit financial fraud through identity theft.
After the arrest, Viasana was charged with bail jumping and drug offenses March 11, but nothing related to the mail thefts or fraud, although she has a previously pending case with charges with misappropriating identification information. A $25,000 cash bond was set. In court Tuesday, Viasana’s bid to have it reduced was again denied by Judge Carrie Schneider.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Sager said Tuesday investigators continue to work on the case, but did not offer a timeline for when charges might be filed.
Meanwhile, Viasana currently does not have an attorney, after a conflict resulted in the previous lawyer leaving the case. A status conference is set for May 27.
She also has a status conference in Calumet County June 13 on fraud and identification charges for incidents in March 2021.
Breneman has no active criminal cases, according to state court records.
