Identity thief nabbed

Although tracking down scammers is difficult, authorities are able to identify and arrest some of them. One of the latest arrests took place in nearby Franklin County and involves a Florida man who was later found guilty of identify theft and social security fraud.

On Dec. 19, Mark Robert Milham was sentenced in federal court to 25 months in prison on identity theft and social security fraud charges, United States Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway and Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke announced.

According to Hanaway and Toelke, on May 5, 2007, officers with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department arrested Milham on an outstanding warrant. Milham gave officers a false name and was found to be in possession of false identification cards.

The following day, while he was being booked, Milham gave officers a false name, a false date of birth and a false social security number that actually belonged to another person.

Milham admitted that he used the number without lawful authority in order to maintain his alias, which he has used for employment purposes, to obtain benefits, and whenever he came into contact with law enforcement.

Milham, 45, of Umatilla, Fla., pled guilty on Sept. 30 to one felony count of fraudulent use of a social security number and one felony count of aggravated identity theft.

He was sentenced Oct. 19 by United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton.