Shaker Heights Man Indicted for Diplomatic Impersonation & Fraudulent Property Purchase Attempt

A Shaker Heights man, Derek J. Bishop, 42, has been indicted by the U.S. District Court for Northern District of Ohio for an audacious plot that involved impersonating a diplomat and attempting to defraud his way into buying property and a car.

Bishop is accused of using fictitious financial documents, including Fifth Third checks, to attempt purchases from Ganley Nissan and make payments to Verizon, AT&T, and Nationwide Insurance. The fraudulent checks were used in March 2013 for a Nissan Armada worth $54,098.

According to the indictment, Bishop falsely claimed to be a foreign diplomat of the Vatican/Postmaster General of the Divine Province to avoid paying taxes on the vehicle and demand his release from the Cuyahoga County Jail. His fraudulent claim extended to Moreland Hills, Ohio, where he tried to purchase property worth over $3.1 million using fake trust documents for the Bishop Family Trust.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew W. Shepherd following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. If convicted, Bishop’s sentence will be determined based on factors including his prior criminal record and role in the offense, with a maximum sentence dictated by statute.

Despite the indictment being merely a charge, Bishop is entitled to a fair trial where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.