United States Attorney David Capp

Northern District of Indiana

5400 Federal Plaza, Suite 1500

Hammond, Indiana 46320

Hammond                                                 South Bend                                               Fort Wayne

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                         CONTACT: Mary L. Hatton

May 25, 2011                                                                                      PHONE: (219) 937-5500

www.usdoj.gov/usao/inn/                                                                    Fax: (219) 852-2770 

INDICTMENT UNSEALED IN FEDERAL COURT

Hammond, Indiana—The United States Attorney's Office announced the following:

Six individuals were charged by an indictment unsealed yesterday with Identity Theft, Social Security Fraud, and Bank Fraud. Daniel Wilson, 50, Anthony Young, 41, Ora Mae Deshazer Wilson, 52, Kamba Hasan, 38, all of Chicago, Illinois; and Demetris Finley, 30, of Hazel Crest, Illinois, and Delilah Day, 29, of Carpentersville, Illinois, are alleged to have obtained fraudulent birth documents purportedly issued from the State of Illinois, social security account numbers issued by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to other individuals, and fraudulent earnings statements purportedly issued by businesses. The defendants utilized these documents to obtain numerous State of Indiana identification (ID) cards and subsequently opened bank accounts at various financial institutions in Indiana and Illinois utilizing these fraudulent obtained ID cards and social security numbers. The defendants also cashed counterfeit checks at various financial institutions and/or merchants. The financial institutions were FDIC insured during the time of the fraud scheme. Additionally, the defendants wrote fraudulent checks on some of the accounts in excess of $1,000.00 during a one year period and subsequently obtained proceeds, i.e., cash and/or merchandise, after using the fraudulent checks. These charges were filed as the result of an investigation by United States Postal Inspection Service. This case has been assigned to and will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Toi Houston.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

            The specific sentence in each case to be imposed upon conviction will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.