RENTON MAN SENTENCED TO 45 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT
Defendant Made Counterfeit Checks and Drivers Licenses to Steal More than $10,000
SCOTT JEFFERY KALINA, 30, of Renton, Washington, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 45 months in prison, three years of supervised release and $10,615 in restitution for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. KALINA was already serving a state sentence for similar crimes when he wrote to the United States Attorney’s Office to resolve potential federal charges regarding his criminal conduct. At sentencing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart told him, “Some of the most heart rendering testimony you ever want to hear are from the victims of identity theft.”
According to records filed in the case, law enforcement had been on KALINA’s trail for a number of years when they searched his home in November of 2006. There they found numerous stacks of stolen mail, as well as equipment for manufacturing fake drivers licenses and forged checks. Detectives found many fake drivers licenses with KALINA’s picture but the names of various victims. When KALINA’s accomplice was arrested trying to deposit into a fraudulently set up bank account, he had 19 counterfeit checks on him, utilizing the names or account numbers of innocent victims. More counterfeit checks were discovered in the search of KALINA’s residence.
KALINA pleaded guilty October 11, 2007.
In asking for a significant sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Janet Freeman noted that KALINA’s criminal history makes him appropriate for federal prosecution and the use of the Aggravated Identity Theft Statute that significantly increases prison time. Under the statute signed into law in June 2004, defendants face an additional 24 months in prison on top of the sentence for the underlying conviction. In this case KALINA was sentenced to 21 months for Bank Fraud with the additional 24 months for Aggravated Identity Theft for a total of 45 months. KALINA has convictions for forgery, identity theft and possession of stolen property.
The case was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Department (KCSD) and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Janet Freeman as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office working group on Identity Theft.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.
