Man from Southern Georgia Accused of Using Stolen Identities to Purchase Vehicles from Tallahassee Dealership
A Southern Georgia man is behind bars after police accused him of using other people’s stolen identities to purchase cars from several dealerships in Tallahassee and across the Southeast, according to recent court records. The 29-year-old suspect from Albany was arrested recently and faces 449 counts of criminal possession of personal identification information, one count of scheme to defraud over $50,000, and one count of aggravated white-collar fraud, according to court records. He is also facing charges in Miami-Dade County.
According to police, the investigation into the defendant unfolded in August 2023, when the Florida Highway Patrol stated someone who works at a Tallahassee car dealership contacted FHP and advised the suspect was attempting to purchase a vehicle with information they believed was fraudulent.
Police say that the fraudulent information consisted of a Tennessee driver’s license bearing a name different than the suspect’s, stating an age of 38, and an earnings statement with an Alabama address, among other documents.
Law enforcement then contacted the FHP Tallahassee Regional Communications Center, which court records indicated revealed that the driver’s license the suspect provided to the car dealership was connected to a different individual. Law enforcement then contacted the suspect about the documents. He told them he was the individual listed on the Tennessee driver’s license, claimed to have lost his license earlier that day, and said he just moved to Alabama, according to the warrant affidavit.
Law enforcement then took the suspect into custody after discovering that the information on the Tennessee driver’s license did not match his actual name and birth date. The suspect then admitted his true identity.
The police conducted an interview with the defendant which revealed that he was from Albany. The Tennessee driver’s license had his photo but not his information. He purchased the driver’s license from someone on Telegram. He did not personally own a car and paid someone to drive him to Tallahassee.
Analyzing the charges
Florida Statutes § 817.5685 makes it a crime to possess the personal identification information of another individual without their permission or authorization. This includes:
- Physical documents
- Identification cards
- Information stored in digital form
If the individual is caught holding the personal identification information of 4 or fewer people, they can be charged with a misdemeanor. If they are caught holding the personal identification information of 5 or more people, they can be charged with a third-degree felony which is punishable by a maximum of 5 years in prison.
Talk to a Tallahassee, FL Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
Have you been charged with a white-collar crime in Tallahassee, Florida? If so, the Tallahassee criminal defense lawyers at Luke Newman, P.A. can defend you from the charges. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.
Source:
wctv.tv/2024/09/05/south-georgia-man-accused-using-multiple-identities-fraudulently-purchase-vehicles-tallahassee-dealerships/
