1. DEAD MAN WALKING? Identity Theft Through Death Certificate Issuance Application Review Processes Presenter Sue Bordeaux Oklahoma Center for Health Statistics Division of Vital Records
Much concentration in the Vital Records community centers around the filing, maintenance and issuance of birth records to prevent identity theft. You will hear much discussion in this session about birth fraud and this session appropriately titled. I will today, however, be reporting on identity theft by means of death certificate issuance. My subject today will be: Identity Theft Through Death Certificate Issuance-Dead Man Walking?

2. Our Subject
Earnest Richardson aka Charles Boags ( Charles Boags deceased 1999)
62 year old male
Long criminal history
Our subject : Earnest Richardson aka Charles Boags
Mr. Richardson had assumed the identity of Mr. Boags who has been deceased since 1999.
At the time of prosecution Mr. Richardson is a 62 year old male with a long criminal history. This case will cause us to realize that identity theft effects all ages, as the victim and as the offender

3. The Victims Families of Males who died in the State of Oklahoma
Large Corporations
Consumers
Those that were victimized by this crime included:
The families of male decedents whose death occurred in Oklahoma
Large corporations for loss of revenue
And Consumers:we all pay the price for identity theft

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
The investigation began when security of a large retail corporation reported to the authorities that accounts were being opened by individuals who were recently deceased.
The authorities begin to gather information regarding the case and noted commonalities of the cases including the fact that all victims were indeed deceased
Authorities contacted the Vital Records Division regarding the deaths and information regarding any application for the death certificate of the identified individuals.

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
A search was conducted by the Division and death certificates were located for several of the individuals identified in the investigation.
The history of the document was verified and an attempt was made to locate the applications in question. This was an important factor in the evidence gathered for this case which was used to determine that Mr. Richardson aka Boags had applied for the identified records. The biggest hurdle being that we only maintained our applications for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. After that time, the history exists but the applicant information is lost. We were able though to locate several of the applications that were still maintained in our files that identified the applicant for these specific records as Mr. Boags.

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)
Our receipt system also allowed us to additionally locate numerous receipts for fees received from Mr. Boags providing further evidence of his crime. The main concentration of occurrence originally was the Central Office location of the Division in Oklahoma City. The receipt system however also allowed us to identify that applications were being made as well at our satellite office in Tulsa.
Additional evidence gathered by the authorities linking Mr. Richardson to Mr. Boags included store credit applications, store surveillance video and a U-Haul receipt that linked by fingerprint. The store surveillance camera identified the tag on the U-haul truck Mr. Boags was driving thus leading authorities to U-haul for the fingerprint match

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
Evidence collected linked the events by the name of the decedent whose names had been used, their dates of death, dates applications and fees were received for copies of the death certificates and dates applications had been made for store accounts all linking activities of our Subject.

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
Mr. Richardson assumed the identities of at least 20 deceased individuals.
Oklahoma specific applications included:
Donald Howard-Attorney at Law and Judge
Charles Guthrie, Dentist
Jim Ferris-Business Owner and Realtor
And James Dunn-Director, Lloyd Noble Center-University of Oklahoma
It appeared that Mr. Richardson’s victims were individuals whose credit would be readily available and not in question

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
Over 100,000 dollars in losses were reported at several large stores for a variety of purchases including electronic items and jewelry as well as car and home improvement items.

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
Obituaries were published in the Oklahoma city newspaper which identified the victims by date of birth, date and place of death and occupation
Mr. Richardson submitted applications for the death certificates under his assumed identity of Charles Boags, again another deceased individual
It also noted that Mr. Boags was an Attorney/Judge from California
Mr. Richardson received the death certificate that provided all of the information he would need to assume another identity including the full name of the decedent, the decedent’s address, the name of the spouse of the decedent, the decedent’s social security number, date of birth, and the maiden name of the mother of the decedent, questions asked on most credit applications today.

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
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 and he is arrested in Pasadena California in possession of a drivers license in yet another name.
(notes about moving across country)

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
The victims families testify in court about their struggles in dealing with bill collectors while mourning the death of a loved one.
Mr. Richardson acknowledges his actions calling them insensitive and cruel. He blames his crime on depression, drugs and loss of his own business
Mr. Richardson is sentenced to 8 ½ years in prison, double the federal guidelines
The judge notes that Mr. Richardson’s admission of being insensitive and cruel left out the fact that he had an extensive criminal record

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
Lessons Learned:
Be aware of the possibilities for death certificate use in establishing fraudulent identity
Establish a receipt system that will allow you to locate a specific applicant name or specific application dates and track repeated applicants
Maintain an easily accessible history date for each issuance of a certificate
Maintain the applications. Currently we maintain our correspondence for a period of one year. This period is determined to not be long enough in many cases of fraud, because of the time element in the discovery of the crime and in the investigative process
Mr. Richardson-Boags visited our central office on numerous occasions. When we were contacted by authorities the front counter clerks immediately recognized him from the picture that was presented, as a frequent visitor. During the investigation it was noted that he was also visiting our only satellite office over 100 miles away and also obtaining records at that location. Make sure when fraud is detected that all offices are notified.

14. Partnerships
Oklahoma State Department of Health-Division of Vital Records
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Working in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation evidence was located and justice was served on Mr. Richardson

15. Our Subject: Mr. Richardson leaving Target with his new 19” RCA Television charged to the account of one of his victims.

16. THANK YOU
Thank You