Two New York residents have been charged in an identity theft operation after a crash on Interstate 80.

According to the affidavit or probable cause filed by Trooper Gabrielle Van Wie of the Pennsylvania State Police, Fern Ridge barracks:

At 1:33 a.m. Jan. 27, state police received a call about a motor vehicle crash at mile marker 277.9 I-80 Eastbound.

The vehicle had heavy damage from hitting a tree.

The driver was identified as Brian McBride, 35, of the Bronx, and the passenger was Danielle Schoonmaker, 40, of Albany.

State troopers arrested McBride for driving under the influence of marijuana. McBride was in possession of nine fraudulent identifications and seven bank cards reflecting corresponding names to the identifications.

The fraudulent identifications all had the same photograph of Schoonmaker with different names and dates of birth.

Schoonmaker was evaluated by EMS, and released. Schoonmaker was taken into custody and transported to PSP Fern Ridge barracks. Kidder Township Police assisted and found a packet of heroin in the seat where Schoonmaker had been sitting during the transport.

Police said Schoonmaker had been concealing a needle before the transport.

Schoonmaker told police she was aware she has multiple warrants for her arrest relating to fraud, and that she and McBride are friends, and she knows him from “the city.”

She said she lives in Albany, and that her and McBride went to Pittsburgh at around 6 a.m. on Jan. 26. She stated that she left from the Bronx, and that she was in the Bronx because she was visiting friends.

Schoonmaker was asked who she was visiting in the Bronx, and she stated she owes “Jay” money. Schoonmaker explained that Jay and McBride make the fraudulent identifications, and then they have someone go to stores and open accounts using the fraudulent identifications. She related “it’s like a big, huge thing, they have all kinds of people.”

She stated “Jay” is McBride’s boss, and that she met “Jay” through a friend to make money.

Schoonmaker said she opened accounts at stores such as Target and Zales.

She said the debit cards also come from the man in the city. She said they traveled to Pittsburgh, but they did not open any accounts because “the guy” down there did not have a list of stores for them to go to.

She said she was also feeling sick, so they left Pittsburgh to return to New York. She related typically a guy would provide a list of stores in which they would visit to open accounts, but she did not know how they select the stores.

Schoonmaker told police McBride is the driver, he holds the cards, and he tells her what stores to go to.

Schoonmaker admitted to using heroin for two years and said she had three bags or heroin while in the vehicle.

McBride refused to speak to police.

McBride faces charges on 18 counts of identity theft; and nine counts each of possessing access device knowing counterfeit/altered, and forgery.

Schoonmaker faces charges on 18 counts of identity theft; nine counts each of possessing access device knowing counterfeit/altered, and forgery; and one count of drug possession.

They were taken to the Carbon County Correctional Facility. McBride posted $100,000 bail.

Schoonmaker is lodged in lieu of $150,000 bail. They are scheduled to have their preliminary hearings Feb. 15 before District Judge Joseph D. Homanko Sr. of Weatherly.