Bellevue Detectives Arrest 2, Recover Car In ID Theft Bust

BELLEVUE, WA — Two men from Detroit together face a dozen felony charges in King County after prosecutors said the pair used stolen identification to open credit lines and make expensive purchases around Puget Sound.

In charging documents released Thursday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office accused Brian Perry, 25, and Patrick Dennis, Jr., 27, in a largescale identify theft operation. Prosecutors named Perry in all 12 charges, with nine residents and three local companies identified as victims. Prosecutors said Dennis participated in at least four of the crimes.

According to Bellevue police, both men flew into Seattle on the week of April 19 and quickly got to work using stolen identities to open credit lines. Detectives said successful purchases included a $64,000 Dodge Challenger, bought from Northwest Motorsports in Lynnwood, a $6,400 gold bracelet, and a variety of pricy items from two shopping malls.

Detectives said Perry also attempted to buy a 2019 Camaro, valued at $51,000, from AutoNation Ford of Bellevue with a stolen ID but did not return to pick it up. According to police, the victim contacted the dealership after receiving a credit alert, prompting the manager to call the police.

Bellevue police said detectives learned Perry's identity through a cell phone number provided to the dealership and determined he had an extensive history of fraud on his criminal record in Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada and Louisiana.

Using cell phone records, investigators said they located the Dodge Challenger at a SeaTac motel over the weekend. Detectives included several photos in court filings they said showed both men taking items in and out of the car.

Following the men, police said they made additional stops in Auburn, including the Auburn Supermall, and at the Tacoma Mall. After the "shopping spree" in Pierce County, Bellevue police said detectives arrested both men in the parking lot without incident. After securing a search warrant for inside the vehicle, detectives said they found 11 counterfeit driver's licenses, including eight from Washington and three from Oregon, 17 new iPhones, four Apple watches, and a Costco credit card with a high limit.

In court filings, investigators said they also saw a credit card encoder, used to load stolen numbers onto cards. Detectives said one man told them the pair had planned to fly back to Detroit the following day.

An arraignment hearing for both men, where they are expected to enter pleas, is scheduled for May 12.