2019: Eight Blacks Arrested in Child Identity Theft Case - police commissioner's cousin, firefighter

[Arheel's Uncle]

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Identity fraud ring ensnares police commissioner's cousin, Buffalo firefighter

• By Aaron Besecker
• Mar 28, 2019

A cousin of the Buffalo Police commissioner and a Buffalo firefighter were among eight people arrested this week after a state and federal investigation into a $420,000 identity fraud ring.

Cynthia L. Lockwood of Amherst and Robert A. Johnson Jr. of Buffalo were among eight people charged this week in the alleged scheme, according to state police and the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General.

Lockwood, 53, is a cousin of Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood, city and police department spokesman Michael J. DeGeorge said in an email Thursday.

Johnson Jr., 33, has been suspended without pay, DeGeorge said.

According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, Lockwood is accused of using a 12-year-old's identity to obtain about $25,300 in credit.

Prosecutors also said Thursday that Johnson Jr. is accused of using a 12-year-old's identity to obtain about $18,000 in credit, as well as cashing a $12,000 counterfeit check. He was arraigned in Buffalo City Court and released on his own recognizance, according to the District Attorney's Office.

State and federal officials announced the arrests, which followed a 16-month investigation, in a news release on Wednesday.

Lockwood and Johnson Jr. have been accused of purchasing stolen Social Security numbers from Darrius R. Outling of Buffalo, according to authorities.

Outling, 49, has been accused of illegally obtaining the Social Security numbers of juveniles living across the United States and then selling them to seven people, including Lockwood and Johnson Jr. The seven then purchased $420,000 worth of items, including cars, jewelry and appliances using credit obtained using the stolen Social Security numbers.

Some of the victims whose Social Security numbers were stolen were as young as 11 years old, investigators said.

Lockwood was charged with first-degree identity theft and first-degree scheme to defraud. Johnson Jr. faces those charges, as well as third-degree grand larceny and second-degree possession of a forged instrument charges, police said.

Outling was charged with four counts of first-degree identity theft, two counts of first-degree scheme to defraud and one count of second-degree identity theft, police said.

Prosecutors alleged Outling also acquired about $133,000 in credit using various identities, most of which were those of juveniles between ages 11 and 15. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.

[Arheel's Uncle]

Ringleader of Identity Theft Scheme Pleads Guilty | Erie ...

8/8/2019



Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 50-year-old Darrius R. Outling of Buffalo pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony.
Between August of 2014 and June of 2018, the defendant used Social Security numbers that were assigned to several juveniles from across the country to obtain more than a dozen credit cards and purchase four vehicles. All of the cars were repossessed and the credit card accounts were charged off by the financial institutions, resulting in an estimated financial loss of approximately $133,000.
In addition to monetizing the Social Security numbers for himself, the defendant also sold a series of Social Security numbers to other individuals, most of whom have taken responsibility for their actions.
As part of the plea, Outling agreed to sign Confessions of Judgment for the outstanding restitution amounts and to provide the victims with lack of permission and authority affidavits to assist the minor victims when negative financial information appears on their credit reports.
Outling faces a maximum of 4 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. He remains released on his own recognizance.
DA Flynn commends New York State Police Investigator Andre Dunlap and Office of Inspector General Social Security Administration Agent Bejamin Kabat for their efforts during this 18-month investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Jurusik of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.

[Arheel's Uncle]

Eight Arrested in Child Identity Theft Case | WBEN 930am




By Tom Puckett WBEN
March 27, 2019 8:43 am

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) State Police arrest eight people in Buffalo and Amherst, who they say were responsible for identity theft using Social Security numbers stolen from children as young as 11 years old:
Troopers arrested the following:

Parents can protect their children’s Social Security number by locking or freezing their credit with the three major credit bureaus:


Equifax Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services800-685-1111
Experian Experian.com/help888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
Transunion TransUnion.com/credit-help888-909-8872