United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

FORMER OWNER OF NORTH HAVEN SECURITY SYSTEM COMPANY PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL IDENTITY THEFT CHARGE

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KENNETH MOORE, age 44, formerly of 233A Front Street, New Haven, Connecticut pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport to one count of identification fraud. MOORE's plea of guilty was accepted by United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that MOORE had been indicted by a grand jury in Hartford on March 26, 2003 with two counts of identification fraud and one count of access device fraud. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years' incarceration and a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss resulting from his offense, which, according to the plea agreement, was calculated by the Government to be in excess of $209,000. Judge Underhill will sentence MOORE on May 17, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.

At the plea proceeding, MOORE pleaded guilty to one of the identification fraud counts and admitted, under oath, to the following facts articulated by the federal prosecutor on the record and by a written stipulation of offense conduct that he signed in open court.

In 2000, MOORE, who owned Security Plus Associates, located at 7 Corporate Avenue, North Haven, Connecticut, installed a security system in the home of the victim. MOORE was an independent contractor for a national company called Protection One and installed security systems for Protection One customers. In filling out the paperwork for the installation of the security system, customers provided their personal information, including their names, addresses, dates of birth and social security numbers. When MOORE installed the victim's security system, he learned the victim's personal information, including his name, address, date of birth and social security number.

MOORE used the victim's personal information to apply for and receive multiple credit cards in the victim's name. Specifically, from March 2001 through November 2001, he applied for and received credit cards in the victim's name from US Bank, First National Bank of Omaha, Shell Oil, Lowe's, and Macy's. For all of these credit cards, he used the victim's name and social security number to obtain the card. He then provided either his own home address or his security company's North Haven address to the credit card companies so that the account statements for the cards were sent to him and not to the victim.

On July 11, 2001, MOORE opened up two credit card accounts with US Bank using the victim's name and social security number, and on November 26, 2001, he opened up a third credit card account with US Bank using the victim's name and social security number. While the accounts were active, MOORE spent approximately $54,865.25 and never made any payments on the accounts. On October 18, 2001, MOORE opened up a credit card account with First National Bank of Omaha using the victim's name and social security number. From November 28, 2001 through May 13, 2002, the date the account was closed, he accumulated approximately $15,084.63 in unpaid charges on the account. On April 16, 2001, MOORE opened up a credit card account with Shell Oil using the victim's name and social security number, and from the date the account was opened until it was closed on December 26, 2001, he accumulated approximately $1,630.79 in unpaid charges on the account. On August 17, 2001, MOORE opened up a credit card account with Macy's Department Stores using the victim's name and social security number, and from the date the account was opened until it was closed on August 21, 2002, he accumulated approximately $1,859.87 in unpaid charges on the account. On March 30, 2001, MOORE opened up a credit card account with Lowe's Home Improvement Stores (Monogram Credit Card/Bank of Georgia) using the victim's name and social security number, and from the date the account was opened until it was closed on November 16, 2001, he accumulated approximately $15,126.57 in unpaid charges on the account.

In July 2001, MOORE, identifying himself as the victim, went to Diamond Auto in East Haven, Connecticut to finalize the purchase of two 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup trucks. MOORE purchased one truck for $8241.75 and the other for $7280.68. As one piece of identification, MOORE produced a US Bank Visa credit card in the name of the victim and placed a $1000 deposit for both vehicles on the credit card. MOORE did not give a home address, but instead gave a business address of 7 Corporate Avenue, North Haven, Connecticut. To finance the remainder of the purchase price of the two vehicles, MOORE obtained a car loan from Citizen's Bank using the victim's name and social security number. On the loan application, he provided a business address of 7 Corporate Avenue in North Avenue and a home address of 233A Front Street, New Haven, which was MOORE's home address at that time. On March 22, 2001, MOORE, identifying himself as the victim and using the victim's identifying information, finalized the purchase of a black 1994 Mercedes Benz, Model S420, for $35,189.00 from COS Central Auto, in Meriden, Connecticut. MOORE financed $30,211.00 of this purchase with a consumer loan from the Connecticut Bank of Commerce using the victim's name and social security number.

In or about late July or early August 2001, MOORE identified himself as the victim and used this identity to obtain auto insurance for the two 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup trucks and one 1994 Mercedes Benz that he had previously purchased and registered in the victim's name. He paid for this insurance using one of his US Bank credit cards that had been issued to him in the victim's name.

On July 9, 2001, MOORE, identifying himself as the victim and using the victim's identifying information, finalized the purchase of a 2001 Trophy, model 2353, fishing boat for $41,420.44. He purchased the boat from the Echo Marina in Brookfield, Connecticut and financed the entire purchase using the victim's name and identifying information, including his social security number.

The written stipulation further provided that the total approximate loss, which was solely based on the Government's calculations, included losses suffered by the following credit card companies, all of whom issued credit cards to MOORE after he applied for them using another individual's identity: US Bank ($54,865.25), First National Bank of Omaha ($15,084.63), Shell Oil ($1,630.79), Monogram Credit Card/Bank of Georgia, DBA Lowe's ($15,126.57), Macy's ($1,859.87), American Express ($23,555.77), Capital One ($5,024.61), First USA Bank ($8,455.30), and Advanta Bank ($5,438.00). The total loss amount also includes the financed purchases of the 2001 Trophy, model 2353, fishing boat, the two 1998 Chevrolet S-10 pickup trucks, and the black 1994 Mercedes Benz, Model S420.

"Identity theft has a devastating impact on victims, but what makes this case especially troubling is that this identity thief was hired to install a security system in the victim's home," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "This type of behavior is beyond unacceptable, and this Office and our law enforcement partners will investigate and prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent of the law."

The investigation and prosecution of this matter is the result of a collaboration among the East Haven Police Department, the Office of the Chief State's Attorney, the Hamden Police Department, the New Haven State's Attorney's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the United States Postal Inspection service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Spector.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov