JACKSONVILLE, FL – Anthony Johnson, 52, of Jacksonville, is staring down a potential 30-year prison sentence after a federal jury found him guilty on a litany of financial crimes. The conviction stems from a years-long scheme involving stolen identities, fraudulent loans, and a lavish lifestyle funded by deception. Johnson was indicted August 10, 2016, and now faces the music for preying on unsuspecting victims.
Prosecutors detailed at trial how Johnson, beginning in 2014, fabricated a history of military service and brazenly stole the identities of at least two victims – including a Seattle, Washington lawyer – to open bank accounts and secure loans. He targeted the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), racking up credit cards and convenience checks, draining thousands of dollars for personal use. The scheme didn’t stop there; Johnson obtained a legitimate Florida driver’s license using the name of a Texas doctor, paving the way for even more fraudulent activity.
The fraud escalated with over $148,000 in loans obtained from Bankers Healthcare Group, LLC (BHG), wired into a sham Florida-based medical data company Johnson created. He continued to exploit the stolen identity, securing additional funds from Springleaf Financial Services and funneling the proceeds through the same TD Bank account. Johnson then opened a personal account in the victim’s name, effectively laundering the stolen money to fund a life of luxury.
The evidence painted a picture of brazen extravagance. Johnson used the ill-gotten gains to purchase a $70,000 Mercedes Benz. He further compounded his crimes by assuming the identities of two more victims, securing apartments and driver’s licenses under their names. But the spending didn’t stay stateside. In June and July of 2016, Johnson fled the country, jetting off to Dubai where he squandered over $4,000 at a club/restaurant, indulged in high-end hotel stays, and purchased expensive personal items.
Johnson’s globe-trotting came to an abrupt end on July 11, 2016, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, working with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested him at Orlando International Airport upon his return to the United States. He had violated the terms of a previous supervised release, and has been held in federal custody ever since. He now faces up to 30 years in prison for each of the nine bank fraud counts, up to 20 years for each of the three mail fraud counts, up to 5 years for each of the seven Social Security number misrepresentation charges, and a mandatory minimum of 2 years for each of the nine counts of aggravated identity theft, in addition to potential time for the supervised release violation.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Florida Highway Patrol, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshal Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the U.S. Secret Service (Jacksonville Field Office). Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin C. Frein and Beatriz Gonzalez are prosecuting the case. Sentencing and violation hearing dates have not yet been scheduled.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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