Man to Do Four Years Time for ID Theft Crime

Cook County, Illinois, Circuit Judge Thomas Fecarotta sentenced James L. Bush, who pleaded guilty to four counts of financial identity theft, to four years in prison. The Chicago man used personal information from three men to charge more than $22,000 in merchandise at Woodfield Shopping Center, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.

Mr. Bush obtained credit information from two of the men by working in a store in which they apparently had been customers. He used their Social Security and drivers' license numbers, addresses and names to purchase computer and video equipment at Sears, Circuit City Express and twice at the Apple Store, according to Assistant State's Attorney Rosanne Pulia.

Mr. Bush, 47, applied for instant credit at a computer terminal at the Apple Store using information he had stolen from an 83-year-old man. He then posed as the man and bought three video cameras.

Moderator Comment: How large a problem is identity theft? What needs to be done to protect consumers and retailers from this fraudulent activity?

A four-year jail sentence just doesn't seem like enough time to us. Let's hope there isn't any sentence reduction for good behavior. [George Anderson - Moderator]

• Chicago Man Gets Four Years in Identity Theft - Chicago Tribune