Damien D. Dennis, Aggravated Identity Theft, Georgia 2024

ALBANY, GA – Damien D. Dennis, a 44-year-old from Middleburg, Florida, has added to his already substantial prison sentence with a guilty plea to aggravated identity theft. Dennis, already facing over a decade behind bars for fraud in Florida, admitted to trafficking in stolen personal information on the dark web and actively instructing others on how to exploit the system to secure fraudulent bank loans.

The plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on February 7th, carries a mandatory minimum of two years to be served consecutively to his existing 12-year sentence. Dennis also faces up to a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release following his incarceration. He is ineligible for parole, meaning he won’t see freedom anytime soon. Details of his initial conviction in the Middle District of Florida can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/jacksonville-man-sentenced-12-years-federal-prison-bank-fraud-and-aggravated-identity.

“Innocent people’s identities were stolen and used to create phony documents so other scam artists could commit all manner of theft and fraud,” stated U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Damien Dennis wasn’t just a thief; he was a teacher, actively enabling others to prey on victims using stolen identities. Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to dismantling these schemes and holding these criminals accountable.”

The case unfolded on February 25, 2020, when Ashburn Police pulled Dennis over for speeding. A routine traffic stop quickly turned into a treasure trove of fraudulent materials. Officers discovered eight drivers licenses from seven different states, one social security card, blank W-2 forms, check paper, badge-making equipment, printers, bank ID cards, laminates, and business card protectors. Dennis’s vehicle also held cell phones, laptops, and a USB thumb drive—all tools of the identity theft trade.

Dennis confessed to sourcing the identification documents from anonymous vendors on the dark web. He then crafted complete, fraudulent profiles and sold them to customers seeking to deceive lenders and commit further fraud. Investigators uncovered extensive text message conversations on Dennis’s phones revealing he was tutoring individuals on how to leverage these fake profiles to fraudulently obtain bank loans. The U.S. Secret Service’s Albany Resident Office spearheaded the investigation, working in conjunction with the Ashburn Police Department.

“This case is a stark reminder of the lengths criminals will go to steal from unsuspecting victims,” said Resident Agent in Charge Clint Bush of the U.S. Secret Service. “Damien Dennis exploited personal identifiable information (PII) for pure profit. The Secret Service, along with our partners, remains dedicated to investigating, arresting, and prosecuting those who engage in financial fraud, both locally and nationwide.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case.

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