United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

HARTFORD MAN WHO USED A FALSE IDENTITY CONVICTED ON FOUR COUNTS

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury sitting in New Haven today returned a verdict of guilty against PETER REYNOLDS, age 38, of Hartford, Connecticut, on all counts of a four-count Indictment. The verdict follows a two-day trial before Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns.

The four-count Indictment charged REYNOLDS with: (1) possessing a fake birth certificate in the name of "Peter Chermont;" (2) possessing a false Social Security Card under the name of "Peter Chermont;" (3) making various false statements in an application for a United States passport under the "Peter Chermont" identity; and (4) furnishing false information to the Social Security Administration in connection with an application for a social security account number under the "Peter Chermont" name.

Evidence introduced at trial established that in August 2002, REYNOLDS provided $2,000 to an individual in New York City in exchange for a counterfeit birth certificate, purportedly issued by the City of Newark, New Jersey, which bore the assumed name of "Peter Chermont." The evidence further established that REYNOLDS provided the individual with the information that he wanted to appear on the birth certificate.

Upon receiving the false birth certificate in late 2002, REYNOLDS proceeded to obtain a series of false identification documents in 2003 under the Peter Chermont identity, including a Connecticut non-driver's identification card; a Connecticut State Social Services card; a Connecticut Driver's license; and a United States Social Security card and account number. REYNOLDS' efforts culminated in a March 8, 2003, application for a United States Passport in which he claimed, among other things, that his name was Peter Chermont and that he was born in Newark, New Jersey.

The evidence at trial, however, established that no record of birth existed in New Jersey for either the Peter Reynolds or Peter Chermont identity; that REYNOLDS was, in fact, born in St. Lucia in the Virgin Islands; and that REYNOLDS had entered the United States in 1989 and was an overstay on a now-expired visa.

Evidence at trial also established that REYNOLDS was living under both identities. Specifically, evidence introduced at trial indicated that, although the defendant owned properties in Hartford under the Reynolds identity that were valued in excess of $150,000, he had, among other things, applied for financial assistance from the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services under the Chermont identity, claiming that he had no assets or income. The evidence further indicated that the defendant incorporated a general contracting business with the Connecticut Secretary of State under the Chermont identity, in which he identified both Peter Chermont and Peter Reynolds as principals.

REYNOLDS is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Burns on Monday, August 2, 2004. REYNOLDS faces up to 15 years in prison for possession of the false birth certificate; 15 years in prison for possession of the false social security card; ten years in prison for making false statements on the passport application; and five years in prison for providing false information to the Social Security Administration. Additionally, REYNOLDS faces a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count.

The case was investigated by Special Agents Mark Earl and Chris Rex of the United States State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, Special Agent Stephen Brown of the United States Social Security Administration, and Hans Maurer, Fraud Prevention Manager from the U.S. State Department's Connecticut Passport Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen B. Reynolds, who is not related to the defendant.

CONTACT:

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