David Clarke, Identity Theft, North Carolina 2020

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In a shocking revelation, David Clarke, 30, of Charlotte, has pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in two separate schemes involving identity theft, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Clarke and his co-conspirator, Jamel Johnson, were initially indicted on June 19, 2020, on bank and wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges for orchestrating a scheme in which they used stolen personal information of identity theft victims to obtain fraudulent bank loans.

On October 7, 2020, new federal wire fraud charges were filed against Clarke for using stolen identities to file for, and receive, COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits.

According to court documents and statements made at Clarke’s plea hearing today, from August 2019 to June 2020, Clarke, Johnson, and their co-conspirators engaged in a bank loan scheme involving the use of stolen information of identity theft victims. Court documents show that, after acquiring the victims’ stolen identities on the internet and elsewhere, the co-conspirators used them to attempt to obtain more than $1,000,000 in fraudulent bank loans and goods.

Clarke is currently in federal custody. The charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years and a $1 million fine. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a minimum prison term of two years, consecutive to any other prison term imposed, and a $250,000 fine. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

The prosecution for the government is handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.

In related news, Clarke’s co-defendant, Jamel Johnson, has also pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud for his role in both schemes. A third co-defendant involved in the bank loan scheme, Justin Parks, has pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.

The case against Clarke remains ongoing, with a sentencing date yet to be set. Clarke is currently facing a total of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine, and a minimum of two years for aggravated identity theft.

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