Lyles Gets 3+ Years for ‘Synthetic Identity’ Fraud

ATLANTA, GA – Kelvin Lyles is trading sidewalks for steel bars after being sentenced to three years and ten months in federal prison for a sophisticated wire fraud scheme involving “synthetic identities.” The case, prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, highlights a rapidly growing trend in identity theft where criminals fabricate entire personas to steal money.

Lyles, operating between January 2013 and December 2015, didn’t just steal identities – he created them. He built credit histories for entirely fictional individuals using bogus Social Security numbers, then leveraged those fake profiles to obtain credit cards. Once armed with these illicit lines of credit, Lyles racked up over $350,000 in fraudulent charges, diverting the stolen funds directly to himself. The total attempted fraud reached $435,862.10.

“Synthetic identity theft is an unfortunate new form of criminal fraud,” stated U.S. Attorney John Horn. “Identity thieves continue to invent new methods, and this is one more avenue of approach in their attempt to take what is not theirs. We will keep current with these latest trends and do all we can to keep our citizens safe from identity thieves.” The Postal Inspection Service is also cracking down, with U.S. Postal Inspector David M. McGinnis vowing to “remain steadfast to investigate emerging criminal trends to bring these offenders to justice.”

The bust at Lyles’s residence in December 2015 revealed the scope of the operation: over 300 synthetic identities, forged driver’s licenses, a fake social security card, and a stack of credit cards not belonging to him. But Lyles isn’t alone. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been busy prosecuting a string of similar cases in recent months. Robert F. Dixon, Jr., of Chamblee, Georgia, received two years, ten months in prison and $403,734.55 in restitution on January 5, 2017. Karen A. Bradley, of Lithonia, Georgia, got one year, six months and $244,232.31 restitution on November 17, 2016. Landerick C. Mitchell, of North Charleston, South Carolina, was handed six months in prison and $23,328.86 in restitution on September 1, 2016. Maurice R. Lambert, of Atlanta, Georgia, recently pleaded guilty to access device fraud and misuse of a Social Security number, awaiting sentencing on May 25, 2017.

Beyond the prosecutions, authorities warn that ordinary citizens are also being targeted. Scammers are hawking “Consumer Profile Numbers” (CPNs) – essentially synthetic identities – to desperate individuals hoping to rebuild their credit. Buying a CPN isn’t a fix, it’s a fast track to federal charges. These schemes prey on vulnerability, offering a false promise while lining the pockets of criminals and leaving buyers exposed to legal repercussions.

The rise of synthetic identity fraud underscores the evolving sophistication of financial crime. While traditional identity theft relies on stolen information, these schemes create entirely new fraudulent profiles, making detection and prevention far more challenging. Federal investigators are adapting, but consumers must remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to protect themselves from becoming victims of this increasingly prevalent form of fraud. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and expose the players behind these schemes.

RELATED: Chief Sentenced to Decade for Heroin Trafficking