ST. LOUIS – Deleon Ford, 32, of Ferguson, Missouri, is headed to federal prison for four years after a brazen scheme to steal the identities of thirteen people and fleece lenders out of thousands. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey handed down the sentence Tuesday, along with an order for Ford to repay $26,812 in restitution.
Ford pleaded guilty in March to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The investigation revealed a calculated effort to exploit unsuspecting victims, using their personal information to open fraudulent financial accounts and secure loans he never intended to repay. The scope of his operation extended beyond simple cash grabs; Ford also used stolen identities to rent a U-Haul truck and even open a cell phone account.
According to court documents, Ford didn’t just rely on stolen information. He actively fabricated supporting documents – fake pay stubs, doctored utility bills, and bogus bank statements – to bolster his fraudulent applications. He submitted these applications online to various lenders and, in some cases, physically delivered the forged documents, complete with his own picture superimposed onto stolen identification.
The scheme wasn’t a solo operation, either. Ford admitted to assisting an inmate at an Illinois jail in obtaining loans using the identities of others, further compounding his criminal activity. While Ford attempted to obtain over $40,000 through his deceit, the court determined the actual financial loss to be $26,812, the amount he’s now ordered to repay.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Ellisville Police Department led the investigation, painstakingly piecing together the evidence of Ford’s elaborate fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and ensuring Ford faces significant consequences for his actions. This case serves as a stark reminder of the real-world damage caused by identity theft and the federal government’s commitment to pursuing those who profit from it.
Ford’s four-year sentence sends a clear message: stealing identities isn’t a victimless crime. It’s a serious federal offense with long-lasting repercussions for both the victims and the perpetrator. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing fight against financial fraud across the nation.
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Related Federal Cases
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- Heidi Jones Sentenced in Multi-State ID Theft Spree · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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