Tenn. Deputy Accused Of ID theft

The long arm of the law reached out and nabbed one of its own: A Tennessee sheriff’s deputy is accused of stealing a crime victim’s driver’s license and using it to commit identity theft.

Michelle Stiles, 38, was arraigned last week on a six-count federal indictment following her arrest by Knoxville police in November, The Knoxville News Sentinel reported.

Stiles was working as a patrol officer for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office when she responded to a theft call at a 53-year-old woman’s house in July. Three months later, the woman said she began receiving calls about overdue bills on several accounts, according to a search warrant affidavit.

Stiles is accused of using the woman’s license to open credit accounts at a Big Lots store and a furniture store, then running up tabs on $9,000 worth of goods, including bedroom sets.

After Stiles was arrested on state forgery charges in November, she resigned her post. The U.S. Marshals and the U.S. Postal Service arrested her on the new charges. She faces two counts of bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. She’s scheduled to go on trial Feb. 24.

It will be up to state prosecutors to decide whether to proceed with the forgery case or dismiss it in lieu of the more serious federal charges, although both entities could pursue their separate cases.

Stiles worked for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for five years during the 1990s. She later worked for the nearby Blount County Sheriff’s Office before abruptly resigning in December 2007. She returned to Knox County in August 2008.

This case is a reminder to keep an eye on your credit reports, and make sure no unauthorized accounts have been issued in your name. You’re entitled to a free credit report each year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Check out www.annualcreditreport.com for more details.