Four Ohio Residents Charged in Ongoing Investigation of Widespread Identity Fraud

April 22, 2019

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Ohio:

COLUMBUS – Four additional defendants have been arrested and charged with using false or stolen Social Security numbers. Five other defendants were charged in March with illegally using Social Security numbers to lease cars and apartments and get approximately $200,000 of credit.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Tracey Thanos, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the charges.

This second round of charges includes:

Jamellia Kibby, 35, of Columbus. Kibby runs a credit counseling company called LIFE, LLC (Living, Independent, Futures, Everyday, LLC) in Columbus. When interviewed about her work with a Columbus Police detective, she said, “I help people like if you had problems where you had fraud or something that happened to you with identity or with your credit, stuff like that, I help people with credit issues.”

Kibby allegedly used an alias, a fake identity and a child’s Social Security number to help cover up her criminal record when she applied for an apartment. It is also alleged that she opened a bank account and leased an SUV under the false identity as well.

William Lawson, 33, of Columbus. Lawson allegedly used four different Social Security numbers – each of which belongs to a real person – to finance seven cars totaling more than $150,000.
Kimberly Hudson, 33, of Columbus. Hudson also allegedly used a Social Security number belonging to a real person to finance vehicles. It is alleged that Hudson used the identity illegally to finance three cars totaling more than $50,000.
Shaniqua Coleman, 29 of Columbus. It is alleged that Coleman used an alias, a false ID, and a child’s Social Security number to open a bank account, borrow money and finance an SUV.

Each of the vehicles in these cases were leased or purchased at Columbus-area dealerships.

The first set of criminal complaints charged the following five central Ohio residents:

Tommy Edwards Jr., 28, allegedly used three fake Social Security numbers – including two numbers belonging to children – and other fake identity documents to lease a car and three apartments in the Columbus area in 2016 through 2018.

Kiara Mitchell, 28, was charged with using a Social Security number belonging to a child to rent an apartment in Groveport.

Isaiah Burnley, 19, allegedly used false Social Security numbers and forged paycheck stubs to rent apartments in 2018.

Wayne Hamler, 34, allegedly used a forged Social Security card to lease a car in 2018.

China Hester, 36, used a fake Social Security number to rent an apartment in the Columbus area in 2018.

The complaints also allege that Edwards, Mitchell, Burnley and Hamler used the false documents to get almost $200,000 in loans and credit cards.

False representation of a Social Security number is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service and the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, Columbus Division of Police and Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry, who is representing the United States in all of the cases.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This second round of charges includes:

Jamellia Kibby, 35, of Columbus. Kibby runs a credit counseling company called LIFE, LLC (Living, Independent, Futures, Everyday, LLC) in Columbus. When interviewed about her work with a Columbus Police detective, she said, “I help people like if you had problems where you had fraud or something that happened to you with identity or with your credit, stuff like that, I help people with credit issues.”

William Lawson, 33, of Columbus. Lawson allegedly used four different Social Security numbers – each of which belongs to a real person – to finance seven cars totaling more than $150,000.
Kimberly Hudson, 33, of Columbus. Hudson also allegedly used a Social Security number belonging to a real person to finance vehicles. It is alleged that Hudson used the identity illegally to finance three cars totaling more than $50,000.
Shaniqua Coleman, 29 of Columbus. It is alleged that Coleman used an alias, a false ID, and a child’s Social Security number to open a bank account, borrow money and finance an SUV.