Financial Fraud: Tyler Sutton Guilty In Bank Fraud Conspiracy And Stolen Identity

KC Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a bank fraud conspiracy in which he operated a flop house where he paid drug addicts for stolen identity information that was used to create counterfeit checks.

Tyler Sutton, 54, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to participating in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of counterfeit securities, possession of stolen mail, and identity theft. Sutton also pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated identity theft.

Sutton was a property manager residing in the 400 block of Gladstone Boulevard in Kansas City, although he only paid rent for one month and was evicted in October 2014. He used the house to conduct his illegal business by operating it as a flop house where he offered cash and/or drugs to drug addicts who brought him stolen mail, identities, addresses, credit card numbers and bank account information. Sutton often allowed the addicts to stay at the residence.

Sutton also unlawfully obtained identity and account information belonging to other persons and businesses by stealing these items from businesses and from the mail. Sutton and co-conspirators used the stolen identity information to create counterfeit identifications and checks, which were cashed at retail stores and financial institutions.

Sutton did not usually create counterfeit identifications and checks himself, nor did he personally present counterfeit identifications and cash checks. Rather, he instructed others in the making and presenting of counterfeit identifications and checks, and shared the illegal proceeds with his co-conspirators. In this manner, Sutton attempted to insulate himself from liability.

Sutton admitted that the intended loss amount was $83,981.

Co-defendants Gary K. Keesler, 37, and Chad M. Mills, 28, both of Kansas City, Mo., and Christopher Hite, 33, of Windsor, Mo., have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and have been sentenced.

Under federal statutes, Sutton is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole for the conspiracy, plus a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in federal prison without parole for aggravated identity theft. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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