A St. Louis man, Darryon M. Sutherlin, has confessed to a string of fraudulent activities, including identity theft, check fraud, and exploiting pandemic relief funds. Sutherlin, 29, plead guilty to using stolen identities for various illicit financial transactions, including securing a $25,850 loan for a luxury car and acquiring personal loans and credit cards under someone else's name, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri press release.
The case unfolded on May 26, 2022, when Sutherlin used the identity of a New Jersey resident to finance a 2016 BMW 328i, also taking out an $8,500 personal loan he fully spent, later in December that year, he deposited two tampered U.S. Treasury checks into his account, moving funds and spending them, evading detection until a property manager noticed marijuana and driver’s licenses in Sutherlin's apartment during a routine welfare check his guilt admitted in court extends to seeking a Paycheck Protection Program loan by fraudulent means by claiming to run a business, for which he then received over $20,000 and misused for personal expenses.
The investigation shared by law enforcement agencies uncovered more than 20 unauthorized credit and debit cards, a number of false drivers' licenses, and altered U.S. Treasury checks within Sutherlin's possession. This comprehensive inquiry involved the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is handling the prosecution.
Sutherlin, who has been in custody since being indicted on May 15, 2024, now faces a possible prison term of up to 15 years, a $250,000 fine, or both, with a sentencing date set for January 26.
