A Hawaii couple has been found guilty of conspiracy, passport fraud, and identity theft for stealing identities and living under the names of deceased infants for several decades. The jury reached their verdict after deliberating for approximately two hours on Monday in the U.S. District Court in Honolulu.
The couple, known as Bobby Fort and Julie Montague, had argued in court that their actions did not harm anyone. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Muehleck stated that the real Bobby Fort had been deceased for over 50 years and the baby whose identity they assumed lived for only three months due to health issues.
During the trial, one witness, Tonda Montague Ferguson, testified that her sister, Julie Montague, was born in 1968 but died shortly after due to birth defects. The two infants were buried in separate Texas cemeteries, 15 miles apart.
It was revealed that the couple had attended the same high school in Texas and had informed a classmate that they planned to change their identities because of significant debt. In fact, the husband even utilized his false identity, which made him appear 12 years younger, to join the Coast Guard.
The couple is set to be sentenced in March and could face a maximum of 10-year prison terms for making false statements in passport applications and usage. Additionally, they may face up to five years for conspiracy charges and mandatory two-year consecutive terms for aggravated identity theft.
The case drew attention when prosecutors initially presented photographs of the couple wearing what appeared to be authentic KGB uniforms. However, they later clarified that the jackets were worn for fun and backed away from any suggestion of Russian spy involvement.
The sentencing of the couple will take place in March, shedding further light on this intriguing case of identity theft and deception.
