Mark C. Hooten, Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Mississippi 2014

Mark C. Hooten, 44, of Jackson, a local minister and a former subcontractor for DIRECTV, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and wire fraud.

Hooten, who admitted to using the social security numbers of existing DIRECTV customers without their permission, was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $384,651.26 to DIRECTV, the victim of his fraudulent activity.

According to court documents, Hooten created fictitious DIRECTV customer accounts under the pretext of establishing additional satellite service. He then fraudulently obtained commission payments for these non-existent installations from DIRECTV and Dixon Security, a Mississippi company with whom Hooten subcontracted as a satellite TV service installer.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carla J. Clark. Hooten pled guilty to the charges on November 13, 2014, before Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee.

U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis announced the sentencing, stating that Hooten’s actions were a serious breach of trust. ‘This sentence should serve as a warning to anyone considering similar crimes,’ Davis said.

Hooten’s actions not only hurt DIRECTV but also compromised the personal information of the customers whose identities he stole. The case highlights the importance of protecting personal information and being cautious of unsolicited services.

Victims of federal crimes can contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud for assistance. The center can be reached toll-free at (866) 720-5721, by fax at (225) 334-4707, or by email at disaster@leo.gov.

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