The hearing of a local identity theft case is set to resume this week after being sent to recess on March 8 by a 35th District judge.
Clifford Thomas, a Detroit man currently incarcerated on an unrelated offense, is charged with 12 counts of using a computer to commit a crime, each carrying a charge between four and five years.
Police arrested Thomas nearly two years ago after Detroit Police Detective Rabson traced the IP address on several phony transactions to 19719 Gilchrist, the Detroit address at which Thomas was admittedly staying at the time of the crimes. The personal information of three individuals was being stored in a shoebox in the basement upon the search of the home. This evidence was, according to Detective Rabson, tagged and retained as evidence.
According to detectives, Thomas claimed that a friend by the name of Kenny was the one collecting individuals’ personal information, admitting that he was only responsible for entering it into the computer. According to the same report, Thomas also admitted to receiving money in exchange for his actions; knowing that the individuals had not willingly surrendered their personal information.
Thomas was not able to give any information regarding the identity or whereabouts of the man he called Kenny, and police were unable to locate him or verify his involvement in the crimes. Shawna Blackman, the owner of the home Thomas was living in, also provided no information.
The individuals whom Thomas is charged with defrauding include Lauren Cogalli, Joseph Campbell, Lois Brown, and Tamara Olson. Each of these individuals had financial documents in their name at the Gilchrist house and claims to have not given Thomas permission to obtain these documents.
The case is set to resume at 8 a.m. March 12 at the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice in Detroit. Thomas, at the request of his attorney, will be released from incarceration on $10,000 personal bond in order to attend the trial.
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