MAN CONVICTED OF IDENTITY THEFT AND SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD

U.S. Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of Georgia Post Office Box 8970 Savannah, GA 31412 (912) 652-4422 / FAX (912) 652-4388 100 Bull Street Savannah, GA 31401 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, January 23, 2008 CONTACT: Edmund A. Booth, Jr. United States Attorney (706) 724-0517 MAN CONVICTED OF IDENTITY THEFT AND SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD SAVANNAH, GA: Edmund A. Booth, Jr., United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that John Wesley Bembry, age 47, recently of Savannah, Georgia, was tried before a jury in U S. District Court in Savannah and convicted of two counts of social security fraud, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), two counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A, and one count of possessing a counterfeit check with the intent to defraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 513(a). Chief U.S. District Judge William T. Moore, Jr. presided over the trial. The evidence at trial established that, in November 2005, Bembry moved into a vacant rental house located on Fairmont Avenue near the Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah. Bembry obtained utility service at that house from Comcast Cable, Georgia Power, and Scana Energy by providing the real name, social security number, date of birth, employment history, and other personal information of a Michigan businessman to the utility companies. After service was connected, Bembry failed to make any payments, and the past due charges on those accounts appeared on the person’s credit report. The evidence also showed that Bembry was arrested in March 2006 at the Savannah Suites Motel by officers of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. In Bembry’s room at the motel, officers found computers, a laminating machine, blank check stock, blank birth certificates, blank social security cards, and blank drivers’ license templates. They also found handwritten applications to rent the house on Fairmont Avenue, again employing the real name and personal information of the Michigan businessman. In addition, they located counterfeit checks of a local Savannah business, made payable to “Michael Harris,” another alias used by Bembry on a fake Georgia drivers’ license also located in the room. Booth noted that the maximum statutory penalty for each count of social security fraud and for possession of a counterfeit check is five years imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000. Each count of aggravated identity theft is punishable by two years imprisonment consecutive to the sentence imposed for the underlying social security fraud. A sentencing date will be scheduled following completion of a pre-sentence investigation and report. Bembry remains in custody. Booth praised the efforts of Detective Ray Woodberry of the Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and Special Agent Allan Malone of the United States Secret Service for their work in the investigation. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys R. Brian Tanner and Julie M. Wade. #### 09-08