Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft in Southwest Georgia

Damien D. Dennis, a 44-year-old resident of Middleburg, Florida, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft in Southwest Georgia this week. Dennis, already serving a federal prison sentence exceeding a decade for fraud in Florida, faced new charges after engaging in identity theft activities, including trading personal information on the dark web and teaching others to obtain fraudulent bank loans.

During the plea hearing before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Feb. 7, Dennis admitted to one count of aggravated identity theft. He faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing 12-year imprisonment in Florida. Following his release, Dennis will be under three years of supervised release and may face a maximum fine of $250,000.

Dennis is not eligible for parole.

For more information about the Middle District of Florida conviction and sentencing, please visit: https://jaxlegalnotice.com/2022/07/15/jacksonville-man-sentenced-to-12-years-for-bank-fraud-and-identity-theft/

U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary emphasized the seriousness of Dennis’s actions, stating, “Innocent people’s identities were stolen and used to create phony documents so other scam artists could commit all manner of theft and fraud.” Leary highlighted the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies to hold fraudsters accountable and protect individuals and businesses from such crimes.

Clint Bush, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Albany, Georgia, Resident Office, underscored the importance of ongoing investigations to combat financial fraud. He stated, “Criminals are continuously looking for ways to steal from unwitting victims,” expressing the commitment of law enforcement to apprehend and prosecute individuals engaging in such activities.

Court documents revealed that Dennis was apprehended by the Ashburn Police Department on Feb. 25, 2020, for speeding and driving with a suspended license. Upon searching his vehicle, officers discovered eight driver’s licenses, one social security card, and various tools commonly used in identity theft operations. Dennis confessed to purchasing identification documents on the dark web and using them to create counterfeit profiles for fraudulent purposes. Extensive conversations found on his cell phones demonstrated his involvement in teaching others how to utilize fake profiles to obtain illicit bank loans.

The investigation into Dennis’s activities was conducted by the United States Secret Service (USSS) in collaboration with the Ashburn Police Department.