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HOUSTON (CN) – Federal prosecutors say a Texan opened 17 credit accounts and charged more than $50,000 to them using the Social Security number and identity of a person with his same first and last names. Christopher Tyrone Cooper, 32, of Huntsville was arrested Tuesday and charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “According to the indictment, Cooper used the identity and Social Security number of an individual with his same first and last name to obtain more than $50,000 in credit at various FDIC-insured and non-insured institutions, medical facilities and other businesses,” according to the statement. “In one instance, he allegedly received financing from Bank of America to purchase a vehicle in March 2010.” Cooper was to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge this morning (Wednesday). If convicted he faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud, and 2 years in prison for aggravated identity theft.
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