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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 18, 2006

FORMER TAMPA VA HOSPITAL POLICE OFFICER INDICTED FOR IDENTITY THEFT

Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Paul I. Perez announced today that James Richter, age 43, of Plant City, was indicted on charges of identity theft and fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices. If convicted on the access devices count, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The identity theft count carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment, between August of 2005 and February of 2006, Richter was employed as a Veterans Administration Police officer at the James A. Haley Medical Center in Tampa. He allegedly utilized a law enforcement data base to access personal identification information and then used that information to open fraudulent credit card accounts. It is estimated that he purchased $24, 000 worth of merchandise to include a motorcycle and pick-up truck. Richter resigned from the VA Police in February of this year.

The investigation was handled by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Kaiser.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.