Missoula, MT — A Kalispell woman has admitted to her role in a fraud scheme that involved the theft and activation of credit and debit cards using personal information obtained from patient records at a local hospital. Alecia Mae Leonetti, 50, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on December 20, 2024.
Leonetti now faces significant penalties, including up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, to be served consecutively, in addition to another $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release.
The fraud scheme took place between September and December of 2020, when Leonetti’s co-defendant, Krista Hall, was employed at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Hall had access to sensitive patient records and, according to court documents, Leonetti would contact Hall to obtain personal identifying information for individuals whose credit and debit cards had been stolen.
Leonetti would use the stolen card information to activate the cards and make fraudulent purchases. In one instance, she obtained a Glacier Bank credit card and personal details from a hospital patient identified only as John Doe. Over a two-day period in September 2020, Leonetti used the stolen information to rack up more than $2,400 in unauthorized charges at local businesses in Kalispell.
Law enforcement sources say Leonetti admitted to the crime during their investigation. The scheme was uncovered through a joint investigation by the FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.
While Leonetti has pleaded guilty, Krista Hall, who remains a key figure in the case, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. Hall is awaiting trial, and the case continues to unfold in the courts.
Leonetti’s sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution.
