Man gets 309 years for ID theft, bribery

BATON ROUGE, La., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A 309-year prison sentence was meted out Wednesday by a federal judge in Louisiana against the leader of a massive identity theft and bribery scheme.

Robert Thompson was sentenced based on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, computer fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering and obstruction of justice, the Justice Department said in a release.

Thompson's sentence is the longest of any white-collar offender in the history of the Middle District of Louisiana, U.S. Attorney David R. Dugas said.

Thompson was involved in multiple conspiracies with multiple players to get and use personal and financial information of more than 61 individuals, churches, financial institutions and businesses, unbeknown to the victims, Dugas said. In the scheme, the conspirators stole from the victims' bank accounts and used their credit cards for purchases.

Among other things, the conspirators attempted to steal $20 million from one victim's bank account, the Justice Department said.

To facilitate the scheme Thompson bribed a corrections officer at Elyan Hunt Correctional Center with $10,000 to provide Thompson with cellphones while an inmate at the facility, Dugas said.

The other charged defendants include:

-- Ecknozzio C. Jackson, 39, Baton Rouge, La., pleaded guilty to mail fraud and bank fraud in connection with his agreeing to a $10,000 bribe from Thompson.

-- Charlene B. Jackson, 41, New Iberia, La., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering.

-- Sedric L. Jackson, 36, Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obstruct justice.

-- Dacobia L. Hamilton, 32, Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

-- Zelbony O. Taylor, 33, Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and obstruct justice.

-- Murkel L. Parker, 34, Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty to unauthorized use of an access device.

-- Barbara Thomas, 47, Tallulah, La., pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

-- Kelvin Archie, 41, from neighboring Texas, was charged in an indictment with one count of use of an unauthorized access device.