Prison Inmate Accused of Running Statewide Identity Theft Ring in Florida

By Jackie Hallifax Associated Press Writer Published: Jul 25, 2001

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A man serving a nine-year sentence in a $3 million fraud case was charged Wednesday with running a similar scheme while in prison. Jeffrey Campbell, 32, used telephones and the mail at Gulf County Correctional Institution to orchestrate the identity theft scheme, which netted about $200,000, authorities said.

Campbell and five accomplices, including his girlfriend, allegedly used contacts at businesses to assume a person's identity and commit credit card fraud, buy cars and open checking accounts.

Campbell and the others were charged with racketeering, conspiracy and fraudulent use of personal identification information. They face prison terms ranging from five years to life.

The indictment lists more than a dozen victims from Florida, and investigators believe more victims may be found, said Tim Moore, commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Earlier, Campbell was convicted of defrauding people and businesses in Florida and Georgia of $3 million from 1994 to 1998.

"I thought when we arrested him and put him away for racketeering before that we had seen the last of this," said department Special Agent Wayne Ivey.

Three of Campbell's accomplices were in custody, authorities said. A search was being conducted for two others.

The investigation began after a man discovered his identity had been stolen when he received a court summons on charges of failing to return a rental car.

AP-ES-07-25-01 2029EDT

-- Anonymous, July 25, 2001