Police arrested a woman on Friday they suspect was associated with a possible identity theft ring, though the leader remains at large.

Angela Louise Armacost, 29, went to the Casper police department on Friday to talk with officers, according to police Det. Wes Gudahl.

Police believe Armacost was helping to hide the leader of the group, and also supplied the leader with photo copies of identification cards and checks, Gudahl said.

On Sept. 15, Joseph McNaughton was arrested for trying to cash a forged Wyoming State Auditor's check. The employee at the cashing center called police and officers found McNaughton, according to a police affidavit.

While investigating McNaughton's case, police discovered several vital records requests, birth certificates, dozens of photo copies of Wyoming Drivers Licenses - some with insurance cards - and photo copies of other people's checks, said Gudahl.

"I believe it was the beginning of an elaborate set-up," he said. "I think that we were able to get on this one and stop it before they have done a lot of damage to the community with the fraudulent items."

Gudahl said police believe the items found were going to be used to create false checks and also perhaps for identity theft and credit card fraud in the future.

"They had enough equipment to write a lot of checks," he said.

The group also had the lamination needed to create identification cards and special ink for printing official documents.

If they hadn't been caught, Gudahl said, the group could have caused "havoc."

Armacost was charged with conspiracy to commit forgery, possession of forged documents and accessory after the fact, and was released on Monday on $2,500 bond.

McNaughton will appear in court today for his preliminary hearing.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com