STANLEY CARL GREEN, 42, of Western Washington, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release today by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez. GREEN pleaded guilty March 8, 2005 to Mail Fraud for using the identities of current and former military personnel to apply for unemployment benefits. According to the plea agreement, GREEN wrongfully obtained more than $170,000 through this identity theft scheme. At sentencing Judge Martinez noted that GREEN abused his position of trust as a payroll clerk for the Washington Air National Guard.

According to court records, from September 2002 to November 2004, GREEN used the names and Social Security numbers of former and current military personnel to apply for unemployment benefits using the Washington State Employment Security Department telephonic claims system. The unemployment benefits are available to former military service personnel who have been honorably discharged. GREEN had the unemployment checks sent to mailboxes in his name in Bellingham, Yakima and Chehalis, Washington, and then forged the name of the beneficiary, endorsing the checks as payable to himself.

GREEN served in the Washington Air National Guard as a payroll clerk where he had access to the Social Security numbers of soldiers in the Guard. GREEN stole the payroll roster when he left the Guard in 1998. Judge Martinez stated that taking the payroll roster when he left the Guard showed substantial planning for the crime.

GREEN was arrested in November 2004 at a Bellingham, Washington check cashing business. In court today GREEN stated that he "made the absolutely worst choices you can make." GREEN has been ordered to pay $172,163 in restitution.

The Washington State Employment Security Department has been able to correct their records so that none of the servicemen victimized by GREEN will have difficulty getting benefits in the future. The theft did not adversely effect the credit reports of any of the servicemen.

The case was investigated by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the State of Washington Employment Security Department, with assistance from the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Norman Barbosa prosecuted the case. Mr. Barbosa is assigned to the United States Attorney's Office from the Social Security Administration.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer, United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, at (206) 553-4110.

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