The 11-count indictment handed down Friday alleges mail fraud, wire fraud, identity fraud and conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Emily M. Sweeney identified those charged as:

Rosemary Delgado, 42, Youngstown; Sonia Lamboy, 26, Youngstown; Clara Perez, 41, Youngstown; Donnitia Jean Mitchell, 27, Youngstown; Wilma Iris Rodriguez, 33, Liberty; Leslie Faye Dawson, 51, Youngstown; Sheryl A. Yurjevich, 30, Struthers; Evette Aponte, 38, Campbell; Norma Jean George, 36, Youngstown; Rochelle E. Whitacre, 27, Hubbard.

Rodriguez, Dawson, Yurjevich, Whitacre, Lamboy, Perez, Mitchell and George were each charged with one count of wire fraud and Aponte was charged with one count of mail fraud.

Delgado was charged with eight wire fraud counts, one mail fraud count and was also charged with one count of identity theft.

The indictment alleges that Delgado obtained a confidential list containing the names and Social Security numbers of Sharon Regional patients, as well as other names and Social Security numbers from the Trumbull County Legal News. Delgado allegedly used the information to obtain phone service for herself and the other defendants, charging them about $50 per phone.

After getting the phone service, the indictment said, the phone would be used to make long distance calls until the service provider, unable to collect the outstanding fees, disconnected the service.

Following the termination of service, a new phone would be requested in another name, resulting in additional fees until the service provider again disconnected the phone.

If convicted, the maximum penalties for wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit wire or mail fraud are 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both, followed by 3 years probation. The maximum penalties for identity theft is 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, followed by 3 years of probation.

The FBI's Youngstown office, along with Liberty and Hubbard police departments, were involved in the investigation.

"This is certainly news to us," said Ed Newmeyer, director of marketing and community relations for Sharon Regional. "Our preliminary investigation shows that none of those indicted ever worked for Sharon Regional.

"We take extreme care to keep our patient information confidential. We'll be following up with the U.S. Attorney's office to determine what criminal means were used to obtain this information," Newmeyer added.

A Trumbull County Legal News spokesman was not immediately available for comment this morning.