Scheme to Purchase New Cars Using Stolen Identities Results in Two-Year Prison Term for Belleville Woman |
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Illinois
5 December 2019
Kyetia M. Hines, 36, of Belleville, Illinois, has been sentenced to two years in prison on her convictions for conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The charges arise from a scheme to purchase new automobiles using stolen identities of other individuals.
In October 2018, Hines submitted an online credit application, under the name of an individual whose identity had been stolen, to Jansen Chevrolet in Germantown, Illinois. Then, on Nov. 1, 2018, Hines went to Jansen Chevrolet and purchased a new Chevy Malibu using that stolen identity. For purposes of obtaining financing to purchase the vehicle, Hines provided the dealership with fraudulent documents containing the stolen names. One such document was a fake temporary Illinois driver’s license bearing Hines’ picture and the stolen name.
Co-defendant Tamecia C. Buckley, 36, of Belleville, Illinois, has also pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. At her plea hearing, Buckley admitted that she also purchased a car from Jansen Chevrolet using a stolen identity. Buckley is set to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2020.
Both the charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud carry maximum sentences of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years of imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the FBI’s Springfield Division – Fairview Heights Resident Agency, the Illinois Secretary of State Police, and the Germantown, Illinois, Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
Investigators recovered both of the fraudulently purchased vehicles and returned them to Jansen Chevrolet. Employees of Jansen Chevrolet cooperated and assisted law enforcement officials during the investigation.