Any of you attorneys who read this blog ever use a private investigator named Victoria Tade? Uh oh.

Tade ran a San Diego private eye firm named C.I. Inc.. Last week, she was indicted in Tacoma, Washington on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and illegal solicitation of tax and Social Security information.

According to the indictment, Tade would pay Emilio and Brandy Torella, who ran a husband and wife private eye firm in Washington, for “confidential employment, financial, tax or medical information.” The Torells would then obtain the information under false pretenses by what’s known as “pretexting.”

Tade was hired by insurance companies, attorneys and collection companies who wanted her to uncover background information on opposing parties and witnesses and to uncover assets and income to satisfy debts.

The indictment doesn’t identify Tate’s clients, but I’ll keep you posted.