How much do you think your identity is worth? $10? $100? A Pennsylvania man was paid $1,000 for a single stolen Social Security card in a conspiracy to defraud the federal government.
(For more on identity theft-related dangers in the healthcare industry, click here.)
That was just one of the revelations in the three-day trial of Jean Baptiste Alvarez (a/k/a Alex) of Pennsylvania. Today, Alvarez was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to false claims, aggravated identity theft and misuse of social security numbers. You can read the initial indictment here (downloads as a pdf).
According to evidence presented at trial, Alvarez unlawfully provided to Peterson Rene and Marc Celestin, who is charged separately, the personal identifying information (PII) of hundreds of real persons. Alvarez used his job as a technician at a West Philadelphia mental health clinic called Kirkbride Center to obtain and smuggle outpatient information. That patient information was taken from “census sheets” at the clinic and included patient names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Alvarez then sold the information for up to $1,000 per page; that information was subsequently used to file fake tax returns.
The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Office of Inspector General-Social Security Administration. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, investigators learned that Alvarez offered to sell additional PII for 50 children who attended a daycare operated by a relative. In total, Alvarez was charged with disclosing and using the Social Security numbers and PII of approximately 183 persons.
Both Rene and Celestin were also charged with crimes related to the scheme. Celestin has already pleaded guilty and awaits his sentencing.
Alvarez faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of at least two years in prison with a maximum possible sentence of 24 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a possible fine and a $500 special assessment. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 26.
