U.S. Attorney Dena J. King | U.S. Department of Justice
A Charlotte woman, Tammy Cox, 52, has been charged with multiple federal offenses for allegedly using stolen identities to secure college student loans for her family members. This announcement was made by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Cox appeared in federal court for her initial hearing.
The charges were revealed by Jason Krizmanich, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to the indictment, from August 2019 through July 2023, Cox is accused of stealing identities from five co-workers, including their Social Security Numbers. She allegedly used this information to fraudulently apply for college student loans on behalf of her family members. The indictment claims that Cox falsely represented her co-workers as cosigners who agreed to be equally responsible for these loans. During this period, she is said to have applied for at least 13 student loans totaling more than $250,000.
Cox faces one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution and seven counts of financial institution fraud. Each count could result in a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Additionally, she is charged with five counts related to the disclosure of Social Security Numbers, each carrying a potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
It is important to note that these charges are allegations; Cox is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The case was investigated by the USPIS and CMPD. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.
