Collins Brothers Sentenced in Massive ID Theft and Fraud Ring

ST. LOUIS – A ruthless sibling duo has been handed down heavy prison sentences for their role in a sprawling identity theft and fraud conspiracy. Alexandria Collins, 34, of Shiloh, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark to 146 months in prison for her involvement. Her brother, Wayne M. Collins, 31, received a sentence of 141 months. Both are also facing substantial restitution orders.

In 2023, Wayne Collins’ supervised release for a previous firearm theft conviction was compromised when U.S. Probation discovered evidence of identity theft and wire fraud on his sister’s phone, including forged documentation and a $6,300 credit account in another person’s name. The phone also revealed Wayne’s possession of stolen bank checks.

Alexandria Collins’ criminal history is equally as grim. She was sentenced to 33 months in prison for fraud in 2020 and later used a stolen identity to rent a home while under house arrest, owing $36,699 in rent and damages. She has since been tied to numerous fraudulent activities, including counterfeit ID production, wire fraud schemes, credit account opening, and the shipment of LSD.

Wayne Collins pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and access device fraud in 2024 and faced an additional 12 months for violating supervised release. His sister was charged with access device fraud and other counts. Alexandria’s involvement in auto sales netted over $120,000, but she failed to disclose her earnings to her probation officer.

Collins’ deception reached a chilling peak when she concealed her boyfriend’s arrest from authorities, only to arrange a Facetime impersonation to thwart custody attempts by the mother of one of his children. The conspiracy also involved purchasing and attempting to purchase vehicles using stolen identities.

This ruthless scheme highlights the sophistication and reach of organized criminal operations, with severe consequences for those caught in their web.