Kenson Hunte, Identity Theft, Georgia 2019

BRUNSWICK, GA – Kenson Hunte, 39, of Canton, Georgia, will spend the next 34 months in federal prison after being convicted as the ringleader of a sophisticated, multi-state identity theft operation. Hunte was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and ordered to pay $104,347.16 in restitution to the victims of his brazen scheme, with a further three years of supervised release awaiting him after his incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system.

The bust originated with a simple traffic stop. On March 6, 2019, a Georgia State Patrol trooper pulled over Sheryl Henderson, 39, of Norcross, GA, for speeding on State Road 27 in Glynn County. Inside her vehicle, along with Hunte and two other co-conspirators, were 44 counterfeit driver’s licenses and identification cards, each bearing the stolen personal information of unsuspecting individuals. This seemingly routine traffic violation unraveled a conspiracy stretching across state lines.

According to court documents, Hunte and an accomplice used the fraudulent IDs between January and May 2019 to purchase 127 cell phones and network contracts from a Wal-Mart in Homewood, Alabama. They only paid a fraction of the cost upfront, leaving the retailer – and ultimately the victims whose identities were stolen – to foot the bill. Hunte then peddled the fraudulently obtained phones on the black market, pocketing a substantial profit. The total loss amounted to $104,347.16, the full amount Hunte is now legally obligated to repay.

Hunte wasn’t working alone. Three co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and received their sentences. Sheryl Henderson, Colby Hart, 27, of Vidalia, GA, and Monique Laing, 23, of Atlanta, all participated in the scheme. Henderson, the driver, received a sentence alongside Hart and Laing for her role in transporting the fraudulent IDs and facilitating the purchases. The investigation revealed that Henderson received employee commissions and kickbacks from Hunte, incentivizing her participation in the criminal enterprise.

“Hunte led his codefendants into a theft and fraud scheme for no purposes other than to enrich themselves at the expense of innocent victims,” stated David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “Prison time and the payment of substantial restitution will help hold him accountable for his crimes.” The case was a collaborative effort, involving the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the Georgia State Patrol, the Brunswick Police Department, and the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office.

“This sentence is the result of the determination and hard work of federal, state, and local investigators who aggressively pursue identity theft,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to work hard to pursue any individual who greedily puts innocent people at financial risk for their own personal gain.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua S. Bearden and Robin B. Mark from both the Southern District of Georgia and Northern District of Alabama, respectively, prosecuted the case.

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