Stolen Identities Spark $537K Cell Phone Theft In MD: Officials

MARYLAND — Officials on May 14 accused four Marylanders of stealing at least 17 identities to fraudulently purchase $537,000 worth of cell phones. An incident report noted that a grand jury indicted the group on April 29 and revealed their charges on May 13 after police arrested the last suspect. The U.S. Department of Justice identified the accused Marylanders as:

• Reginald McElrath, 40, of Cockeysville
• Chantelle Harris, 33, of Hyattsville
• Robert Patterson, 21, of Odenton
• Danisha Thomas, 37, of Bladensburg

Prosecutors alleged that McElrath, Harris and Patterson worked as cell service associates and had access to customers' personal identifying information. The DOJ mentioned that the three employees opened fraudulent cell accounts with this private information and used them to buy new phones between July 2019 and January 2020. Thomas would occasionally receive some of these phones, the press release indicated.

Authorities explained that the suspects now face charges of:

• Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
• Wire fraud
• Aggravated identity theft

The suspects could head to prison for up to 20 years if convicted of the wire fraud allegations, the write-up advised. Aggravated identity theft carries a minimum sentence of two years, the press release continued. Actual sentences tend to be less than the maximums, however.

Indictments do not determine a person's innocence or guilt. They only issue criminal charges.

The accused Marylanders have not yet gone to trial. They are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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