JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. — A bold scam to get other people’s money, and a lot of it.
Jackson County Prosecutors and the Missouri Attorney General have jointly filed felony charges against a 25-year old car dealer who owned and operated a business in Independence and Blue Springs.
According to court documents, this is an identity theft scam that could affect more than 18 people in the metro.
http://liarcatchers.com/identity_theft_investigation.html
Prosecutors say Terry Morrow, Jr. used his customers personal information to get loans in their name, only the loan money went directly to him.
Court documents say the car dealer operated Edge Auto Sales in Independence for about a year starting in January 2011. He then moved the business to Blue Springs until recently, when he again moved — this time to Illinois.
While in Missouri, prosecutors say Morrow used previous customer’s names, social security numbers and dates of birth to fill out paperwork needed to purchase a car.
According to court documents, Morrow received at least $170,000 dollars in loans from one finance company — loans he got in other people’s names.
Court documents name eight victims believed to have had their identity stolen by Morrow, but according to an interview by Illinois Law Enforcement Officials, Morrow admitted there are more.
In Missouri, Morrow is being charged with eight counts of felony unlawful merchandising practices, seven counts of forgery and two counts of identity theft. The 17 felony charges could land him more than 40 years in prison.
Illinois investigators say the victims didn’t find out about the loans taken out in their name until being contacted about cars they didn’t buy. The State Attorney General’s office says they are holding a press conference on the case next week.
Morrow is currently in custody in Delkaub County, Ill., where is he being charged with seven counts of identity theft for the same type of scam, investigators say.
