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Our Subject

DEAD MAN WALKING? Identity Theft Through Death Certificate Issuance Application Review Processes Presenter Sue Bordeaux Oklahoma Center for Health Statistics Division of Vital Records. Our Subject. Earnest Richardson aka Charles Boags ( Charles Boags deceased 1999) 62 year old male

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Our Subject

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  1. DEAD MAN WALKING?Identity Theft Through Death Certificate IssuanceApplication Review ProcessesPresenterSue BordeauxOklahomaCenter for Health StatisticsDivision of Vital Records

  2. Our Subject • Earnest Richardson aka Charles Boags ( Charles Boags deceased 1999) • 62 year old male • Long criminal history

  3. The Victims • Families of Males who died in the State of Oklahoma • Large Corporations • Consumers

  4. The Investigation • Report by corporate security of fraudulent credit applications for recently deceased individuals to the authorities • Authorities investigate gathering the facts and commonalities of the case • Investigation identifies that all victims are deceased • Investigators contact Vital Records

  5. The Investigation (cont.) • Vital Records searches for the names of the decedents • Records identified and history of the documents noted • Many applications still maintained in storage • Applications located • Mr. Boags identified as the applicant for the death certificates

  6. The Investigation (cont.) • Receipt system allowed for the location of numerous receipts from Mr. Boags and his application for additional death records • Other evidence: • Store applications for credit • Store surveillance video • U-Haul receipt (fingerprint evidence linking “Mr. Boags” to Mr. Richardson)

  7. The Investigation (cont.) • Evidence is prepared by authorities that includes corresponding evidence that identifies the decedent, the date of death, the date of death certificate application and the date application was made for store accounts

  8. The Crime • Mr. Richardson assumed the identities of at least 20 Decedents • Oklahoma specific applications • Donald Howard, Attorney/Judge • Charles Guthrie, D.D.S. • Jim Ferris-Business Owner, Realtor • James Dunn-Director, Lloyd Noble Center

  9. The Crime (cont.) • 100,000+ in losses at: Target, Home Depot, Gordon’s Jewelers, Radio Shack, Zales Jewelers, Gateway, JC Penney, American Eagle, Dayton Tire, Dillards, Maytag, K-Mart, Lowe’s, Payless Cashways, Pep Boys, Sprint

  10. The Crime (cont.) • Obituary published in the newspaper including the decedents date of birth, date of death, place of death and occupation • Mr. Richardson submitted applications for death certificates using a false name of Charles Boags (deceased) and a false address • Death Certificate provided all of the information Mr. Richardson needed to assume an identity including the full name of the decedent, address, spouse’s name, SSN, DOB and parents names

  11. The Outcome • All documentation is in order and Mr. Richardson is indicted on Federal charges of Identity Theft and False use of a Social Security Account Number • A warrant is issued for his arrest • Mr. Richardson is arrested in Pasadena, California in possession of a Driver’s License in a false name

  12. The Outcome (cont.) • Victims family members testify in court • Mr. Richardson (62 yrs of age) pleads guilty to four counts of fraud and using a Social Security number • Mr. Richardson is sentenced to serve 8.5 years in prison, double what the federal sentencing guidelines suggest

  13. Lessons Learned • Stay alert to the possible uses for death certificate issuance for fraudulent purposes • Establish tracking system for receipt of fees with name of applicant • Maintain document history • Maintain applications • Front office personnel should be aware of their “regular” applicants • Notify all satellite offices of a possible fraud

  14. Partnerships • Oklahoma State Department of Health-Division of Vital Records • The Federal Bureau of Investigation

  15. THANK YOU

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