Illinois Man Tried to Buy Electronics Via Identify Theft, Police Say

 A 47-year-old Illinois man is facing state charges after authorities say he  attempted to purchase electronics from a department store via identify theft. 

Michael Williams was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court May 15 with felony misappropriation of personal information to obtain money. If convicted, he could face up to six years imprisonment, $10,000 in fines, or both. 

According to the criminal complaint: 

On May 10, Oak Creek police responded to American TV and spoke with a store employee about a suspicious person attempting to purchase a iMac computer and iPad. 

The employee told police he became suspicious of the suspect, Williams, because he didn’t ask any questions about the products, wouldn’t provide an answer when he asked what he wanted to use the electronics for, provided a invalid phone number with an area code which didn’t match with his Illinois address, while seeking approval for a store credit card with a $4,000 limit.

Williams provided a driver’s license in the name Steven M. When told he would need to provide a valid phone number for his credit application, he told a store employee he would come back later. 

The Oak Creek police officer was told the man drove to nearby McDonald’s. At the fast food restaurant, the officer found a credit application filled out by Williams, with the name Steven M. and a social security number, along with a driver’s license and Visa card in the same name. 

The officer then was advised Williams was in the area, walking toward a Wendy’s restaurant and he was arrested shortly after. 

Steven M. was contacted and told police the driver’s license Williams was using was not his and he hadn’t applied for a Visa credit card, nor wanted to purchase anything from American. 

Williams is a registered Sex Offender from Illinois, with criminal convictions in Minnesota and Michigan, according to the criminal complaint.

Williams is due in court June 12 for a scheduling conference, and is out-of-custody after posting $2,500 bail.