BRUNSWICK, GA – A sophisticated scheme to fleece cell phone providers using fabricated identities has finally unraveled with the guilty plea of Kenson Hunte, 36, of Canton, Ga. Hunte is the last of four defendants to admit involvement in a multi-state operation that saw dozens of fake IDs used to illegally purchase mobile phones, leaving a trail of financial wreckage in its wake.
Hunte pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Use Five or More False Identification Documents in the Southern District of Georgia, and to Aggravated Identify Theft in a related case from the Northern District of Alabama. He now faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine in Georgia, and a minimum of two years imprisonment, plus another $250,000 fine, in Alabama – all before a period of supervised release. Federal sentencing means no parole.
The operation came crashing down on March 6, 2019, when a Georgia State Patrol trooper pulled over a vehicle driven by Sheryl Henderson, 39, of Norcross, Ga., for speeding on State Road 27 in Glynn County. Inside, troopers discovered a cache of 44 counterfeit driver’s licenses and identification cards, each bearing the stolen personal information of unsuspecting individuals. Evidence showed the ring had been active since January 2019, focusing on a Wal-Mart in Homewood, Ala., where Hunte and a co-conspirator were purchasing approximately 127 phones using the fraudulent IDs.
The scheme wasn’t just about the phones themselves. Hunte paid only a fraction of the cost upfront, while a co-conspirator – an employee at the Wal-Mart – pocketed commissions and kickbacks. Hunte then resold the fraudulently obtained phones on the black market, turning a tidy profit. The total loss from the conspiracy tallied $104,347.16. Three other members of the ring have already faced justice: Sheryl Henderson awaits sentencing, Monique Laing, 23, of Atlanta, is currently serving a 16-month federal prison sentence, and Colby Hart, 27, of Vidalia, Ga., is on supervised release after receiving time served.
“Hunte and his codefendants attempted to enrich themselves by creating and using fake documents that potentially put dozens of innocent people at substantial financial risk,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama added, “This defendant left innocent people with the burden of repairing their financial reputation.” The successful prosecution was a joint effort, with officials praising the collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
“Even the most conniving criminals can’t outrun the team effort,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Steven R. Baisel. FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hacker echoed the sentiment, stating the agency “will continue to work hard to pursue any individual who greedily puts innocent people at financial risk for their own personal gain.” The case serves as a stark warning: identity theft isn’t a victimless crime, and those who engage in it will face the full force of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Angela Miller and Lee Lynwood, Tax Return Fraud, Georgia, 2008 · Georgia
- Kimberly Michelle Banks, Identity Theft Tax Fraud Scheme, GA, 2023 · Georgia
- Four Individuals Face Federal Oxycodone Fraud Charges, Georgia, 2023 · Georgia
- Teresa Ann Floyd, Stolen Identity Refund Fraud Scheme, Phenix City … · Georgia
- Sasha Webb, Stolen Identity Refund Fraud, Montgomery AL, 2013 · Georgia
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News