Fugitive Florida Couple Arrested on Identity Theft and False Statement ChargesBureau of Diplomatic SecurityWashington, DC October 22, 2007 State Department Special Agents Arrest Alan and Carolyn Much After Decades of Avoiding Capture Special agents from the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security (DS) Miami Field Office arrested Alan and Carolyn Much, long-term fugitives from justice, on October 5 for Aggravated Identity Theft and False Statements in application and use of a passport. If found guilty, Alan Much faces a two-year mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for aggravated identity theft and up to ten years imprisonment for passport fraud. If found guilty, Carolyn Much faces up to ten years imprisonment for passport fraud. According to the Yamhill County, Oregon District Attorney’s Office, in 1983, Alan Maxwell Much and his spouse Carolyn Much became fugitives after failing to appear for drug charges in Oregon. Subsequently, Alan Much allegedly assumed the identity of Robert William Wilson and unlawfully obtained U.S. passports in that identity. The subject's spouse, Carolyn Much, also allegedly assumed an alternate identity, unlawfully obtained U.S. passports, and lived under the name Carolyn Wilson. The suspects set up residence in St. Petersburg, Florida. With the fraudulently obtained passports, the couple traveled internationally and avoided apprehension. After being unable to locate the couple for twenty years, Oregon police dismissed the drug charges against them in 2004. In 2007, federal agents detected irregularities in the Robert Wilson identity that, upon investigation, revealed the individual was actually Alan Much. Much’s spouse was also identified by agents. J. Michael Foster, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Miami Field Office said, "Given that passport crimes and identity fraud are often linked to other more serious crimes, Diplomatic Security aggressively investigates these types of offenses to expose and deter criminals and terrorists. For this case, the suspects had evaded justice for decades using other people's identities and crossed international borders as fugitives. This arrest, like many others, will send a message that Diplomatic Security will fully investigate these crimes and bring the suspects to justice, regardless of where they may be hiding. This case was the result of superior cooperation with the DSS and the Social Security Administration." This case was jointly investigated by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the U.S. Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds. Contact: |
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