@#&!?~ this Washington, making me row this boat in the dead of Winter!
Posted on 09/16/2004 8:17:25 AM PDT by csvset
George Washington sailor is suspected in identity theft
By MATTHEW DOLAN, The Virginian-Pilot
© September 16, 2004
Last updated: 11:00 PM
NORFOLK — A sailor serving aboard the aircraft carrier George Washington conspired to steal the identities of other sailors to buy more than $100,000 in luxury goods, according to military court papers released Wednesday.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Curtis L. Phillips , 27, has been charged with unauthorized absence, using a ship computer to access personnel information, criminal misconduct and conspiracy involving the theft of his fellow sailors’ Social Security numbers.
At least 19 officers on the aircraft carrier George Washington have had their identities stolen by thieves based in Baltimore, Navy officials said in April.
From June until November of last year, the names of officers on the Norfolk-based carrier were illegally used to purchase thousands of dollars worth of items including a car, a motorcycle and other merchandise , police said in court papers.
The items were bought on credit, using false identifications fashioned from the officers’ names and Social Security numbers.
Prosecutors charge in court papers that Phillips, who worked in the ship’s personnel department, used the information to aid in the fraudulent purchase of a 2000 BMW 528 automobile and a Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle. The vehicles together were valued at more than $42,500.
Although the identity theft ring operated in and around Baltimore, naval investigators suspected that Phillips aided the thieves .The George Washington left in January from Norfolk Naval Station on deployment to the Arabian Gulf.
Phillips still remains on board the carrier today, according to Mike Maus, a spokesman for the Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force. His military defense attorney declined to comment , according to Maus.
Phillips’ next scheduled court appearance is on Sept. 23 .
The case came to light in November, when a Target store security official in Maryland contacted a Baltimore County police detective. The store caught customers using fake driver’s licenses.
An investigation determined that the names being used were from officers on the George Washington.
Though the officers were assigned to the Norfolk-based ship, their credit applications listed a Baltimore street address.
Reach Matthew Dolan at 446-2322 or matthew.dolan@pilotonline.com
Can't be much of a sailor if he's a 3rd class at age 27.
Wonder just how fast they can build a plank for the SOB to walk on
A third-class petty officer stealing officer's identities?
I suggest he beg to get sent to Leavenworth. If they put him back on the carrier, life could get really unpleasant for him.
Uh oh, my daughter serves on that ship.
I can't believe he tried to steal George Washington's identity. Everybody knows what Washington looks like.
Officers be kind to your Yeoman.
Was the sailor on the same boat as George Washington? If not, how can we say he served with Washington?
A modern supercarrier doesn't really have a keel, but you can still keelhaul the SOB.
@#&!?~ this Washington, making me row this boat in the dead of Winter!
Flog around the fleet!
Keel haul him, and that tends to be serious on an aircraft carrier.
Keel haul him, and that tends to be serious on an aircraft carrier.
LOL! They read your mind: Phillips still remains on board the carrier today, according to Mike Maus, a spokesman for the Atlantic Fleet Naval Air Force. His military defense attorney declined to comment , according to Maus.
I hope he doesn't have access to anyone's personal information. As a PN3, I suppose they could send him TAD to the Mess Decks for awhile.
You might want to have her get ahold of her credit report.
Here's my idea...Muster the whole crew on the flight deck underway. No senior officers present. Have him escorted out onto the middle of the flight deck. The Captain informs the crew who he is and what he has done to their shipmates. Then he retires to his cabin, leaving this THIEF to the mercy of his shipmates. JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED.
I've claimed to be Napoleon a few times, but medication cured that.
| Background: ID theft ring strikes carrier Washington's officers |
Curtis L. Phillips , 28 , pleaded guilty to four of seven charges at a court-martial, according to the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic’s public affairs office.
Phillips, a petty officer third class assigned to the aircraft carrier George Washington, admitted to identity theft of less than $100,000 , as well as being absent without leave, fraudulently enlisting and missing the movement of a ship.
He pleaded not guilty to three other charges, which were dismissed by the judge, Cmdr. Lewis Booker.
The sailor, who worked as an administrator and had access to shipmates’ personal information, was also demoted to the Navy’s lowest rank and fined $2,200 , according to the public affairs office.
He will forfeit all pay, and receive a bad conduct discharge. “I made a mistake that was huge,” Phillips told the judge, according to a statement from public affairs. “I want to apologize to everyone affected by it.”
Four of his 22 victims, all of whom are officers, testified Wednesday during the five-hour proceeding.
One of them, Ens. Eric Laettner , said “If this happened one time, it could easily happen again.” Phillips’ civilian attorney, David Price , could not be reached for comment, but the Navy’s lawyer was satisfied with the sentence.
The public affairs statement quoted Lt. Richard Federico as saying: “This is a fair and just result for the officers who were victims of the crime and the U.S. Navy as a whole . A message needs to go to the fleet: There are severe consequences if you misuse information you have access to.”
Phillips will serve his sentence in the Norfolk Naval Station’s brig.
Reach Kate Wiltrout at 446-2629 or kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com
The jerkoff used the typical line "I made a huge mistake." Mistake my sorry a** this was far from unintentional.
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