Dodge County Sheriffs Uncover Identity Theft Ring
Dodge County sheriff’s deputies broke an alleged identity theft ring that has been operating in four counties. The 37-year-old man arrested is accused of receiving stolen property by using a license plate to conceal or misrepresent a vehicle’s identity. He is being charged with 56 counts of identity theft and two counts of receiving stolen property in Georgia. Another possible conspirator was also charged in the case.
During the bust, Dodge County deputies discovered that the accused had several stolen vehicles as well as access to the owner’s Social Security and account numbers and keys obtained through his job as an auto parts delivery driver. The theft came to light when a Georgia state trooper saw that the vehicle identification and tag numbers did not match the 2008 Ford F-150 the man charged was driving when he had gotten into an accident.
Identity theft is categorized as a white-collar crime and is one of the fastest growing theft crimes in America. White-collar crimes vary widely; however, the punishments for such are often severe, including prison sentences, steep fines, revocation of professional licenses and a permanent mark on records. Often times, those convicted of theft crimes struggle to find new employment or keep their jobs.
Remember that being accused of a crime does not mean that you are in fact guilty. If you have been charged with a white collar or identity theft in Georgia, contact an experienced and aggressive Atlanta theft criminal defense attorney as soon as possible in order to better your chances of prevailing in court.