A New Orleans fraudster, Kenneth Richmond, 65, has been handed a four-year prison stretch for his involvement in a scheme to buy cars with false identity. Richmond, conspired with his daughter to defraud a local car dealership by using stolen identities to finance vehicles through a bank—purchases which then defaulted, causing significant financial loss. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson detailed the fraudulent activities leading to Richmond's sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, as imposed by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe on August 14, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case unfolded when it was discovered that Richmond, alongside his daughter Kendra Walker, had exploited personal data such as names, birth dates, and social security numbers to make unauthorized car purchases, notably nabbing a Dodge Challenger in July of 2022. Richmond's criminal act was particularly egregious given he was already under federal supervised release for a previous conviction of similar nature. As a consequence of these actions, Richmond has been ordered to pay restitution to the victims totaling $58,852.00, in addition to serving his time behind bars, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Richmond's history of fiscal deceit seems to have caught up with him once again. On top of his four-year sentence, Judge Sarah S. Vance revoked Richmond’s federal supervised release on August 13 and tagged on an additional two-year sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. These consecutive sentences amount to a six-year period of imprisonment for Richmond.
While Richmond is set to start his stint, the proceedings against his co-conspirator and daughter, Kendra Walker, are pending. Judge Ashe has scheduled her sentencing for September 25, as the investigation and prosecution by various agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety, conclude. This case serves as a cautionary tale for those tempted by the allure of quick gains through fraudulent means; the law, it seems, does not look kindly on those who play with others' identities.
