Austin L. Miller reports:
A 49-year-old Leesburg woman pleaded guilty in the federal courthouse in Ocala Thursday to charges of aggravated identity theft and wire fraud.
Stacey Lavette Hendricks faces up to 20 years behind bars on the wire fraud charge, followed by a mandatory two-year term for identity theft, according to federal authorities.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office issued the following statement yesterday:
Medical Clinic Worker Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft And Wire Fraud
Ocala, FL – Stacey Lavette Hendricks (49, Leesburg) today pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense, to be followed by a mandatory consecutive term of 2 years’ imprisonment for the identity theft offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Hendricks worked administrative jobs at several Florida medical clinics. She used these jobs to gain access to patient medical records to obtain patients’ birthdates and Social Security numbers. She then sold the stolen identities to others for cash, or used them herself to defraud businesses. In May 2019, Hendricks unwittingly sold stolen patient identities to an undercover law enforcement officer. When agents searched her home and car, they located 113 distinct sets of identities that had been stolen from clinic patients.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton.