Atlanta Woman Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft

Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Coretta Bates (31, Atlanta, GA) has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Bates faces a mandatory term of two years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, on April 18, 2023, Bates opened an account at a credit union in the name of "SLD." She used a counterfeit North Carolina driver license with her photo and "SLD's" identifying information to open that account. The credit union approved the application and issued a credit card to "SLD" with a $20,000 credit limit.

Between May 9 and July 7, 2023, "SLD" completed 22 cash withdrawals via ITM (interactive teller machine) from those checking and savings accounts at the credit union totaling $75,700. "SLD" had taken those funds from the credit union under false pretenses and representations by using the identity of another without authorization.

A joint U.S. Secret Service and Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office investigation revealed that there were numerous accounts in different names that the same individual depicted in the "SLD" driver license had opened during the same time. They contacted the real "SLD" and confirmed that she had not contacted the credit union or opened any accounts there. The bank fraud activity from the "SLD" and other related accounts caused the credit union to suffer actual losses of approximately $165,117.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.