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Press Release

Carbondale Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Aggravated Identity Theft

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado

DENVER – United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn announced that Bruce Alexander McIntyre, age 67, of Carbondale, Colorado was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martinez on November 15, 2019 to 24 months (2 years) imprisonment and 1 year of supervised release for Aggravated Identity Theft.  The defendant appeared at the hearing in custody and was remanded at the hearing’s conclusion. 

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, McIntyre was a fugitive who traveled the world using a stolen identity for more than 25 years.  In 1994, McIntyre was charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona with offenses involving money laundering and marijuana distribution, and he was released on bond.  McIntyre absconded from that bond, bought stolen identity documents that belonged to another Arizona resident, and fled from the United States.  Between 1994 and 2018, McIntyre traveled the world extensively buying art and antiques that he sold from a home in Canada, all under the stolen identity.

McIntyre returned to Carbondale in January 2017 and renewed a United States passport in the name of the stolen identity.  In December 2018, the true identity holder sought a United States passport under the same identification that had been coopted by McIntyre.  Because two different people claimed the same identifiers, the conflict was referred to the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).  DSS Special Agents investigated and concluded that McIntyre’s claim to that identity was fraudulent. 

DSS Special Agents located McIntyre in Chaing Mai, Thailand on January 30, 2019 and revoked his fraudulently obtained passport.  The Thailand Immigration Bureau then apprehended McIntyre for Thai immigration violations.  McIntyre was questioned by DSS Special Agents in Thailand, and he admitted his true identity.  A criminal complaint was obtained in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and McIntyre was then escorted, in custody, back to the United States to face charges in Colorado.

“No matter where you go, if you are wanted by federal authorities you will eventually be found and held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn.  “This case demonstrates that hiding under a stolen identification won’t work.”

"The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to investigating and pursuing anyone who applies for or obtains a United States passport using false documents," said Angela L. Brenner, Resident Agent in Charge of DSS’ Denver Resident Office. "The U.S. passport is the most coveted travel document in the world. There are individuals who attempt to fraudulently acquire U.S. passports in someone else’s identity to flee, or to carry out criminal activities. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States."

This case was investigated by DSS’ Denver Resident Office with assistance from the Thailand Immigration Bureau.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tonini.

Contact

Jeff Dorschner
Spokesman, Public Affairs Officer
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Colorado
303-454-0243 direct; 303-454-0400 fax

Updated November 18, 2019

Topic
Identity Theft
Press Release Number: CASE NUMBER: 19-cr-00226