A Ferguson man has been sentenced to four years in prison for stealing the identities of 13 people to apply for loans and obtain other items of value. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey handed down the sentence on Tuesday and ordered Deleon Ford, 32, to repay $26,812.
Ford pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Ford used the stolen identities to open financial accounts, secure unsecured loans, rent a U-Haul truck, and set up a cell phone account. He submitted online credit applications to various lenders and provided identification documents with his picture but using the identifiers of others. To further his scheme, he created fake pay stubs, utility bills, and bank statements.
Prosecutors said Ford also assisted an inmate at an Illinois jail in obtaining loans under false names.
Ford admitted that he stole the identities of 13 people in attempts to obtain more than $40,000 worth of goods and services.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General and the Ellisville (Missouri) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuted the case.
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