Stupid criminal story: ID thief leaves wallet full of fake IDs at grocery story
A lost wallet is one of the most common sources of information for identity thieves. But, in this classic stupid criminal story, a wallet left behind at a grocery store resulted in what a federal judge called one of the most extensive identification fraud cases in his career.
Jade Ingalls, 29, did a little shopping at a Pensacola Winn Dixie grocery store back in February, and tried to pay with a check. Maybe he got flustered when his check was refused, but for whatever reason, he left his wallet behind when he left the store.
A store employee looking for contact information in the wallet found five IDs, all bearing Ingalls’ photo, but each bearing a different name. Time to call in the Sheriff’s Office.
When officers pulled over Ingalls’ Jeep, he gave them a Bahamas driver’s license and an insurance card in different names. A search of the vehicle revealed 10 payroll checks from the Department of Defense, a fugitive recovery badge and an Associated Press ID card.
A subsequent search of Ingalls’ Pensacola home uncovered a slew of fraudulent documents, including National Security Agency ID cards, birth certificates, death certificates, college degrees and a gun Ingalls admitted buying with a stolen identity.
Ingalls, originally from Washington, even used the name, birth date and Social Security number of a 3-year-old North Carolina boy who died in 1984.
Ingalls pleaded guilty to all 15 charges of aggravated ID theft, bank fraud and others. Senior U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson sentenced Ingalls to 66 months of prison time, and ordered him to make more than $30,000 in restitution.
Tags: child ID theft, Child Identity Theft, identity theft, Jade Ingalls, lost wallet, Stupid criminal stories