Metro East man pleads guilty to using seniors’ personally identifiable information to commit fraud

Christopher Rhodes, 53, of Lovejoy, Ill., entered pleas of guilty to aggravated identity theft and wire fraud for his role in stealing personal information from residents of a Belleville seniors facility where he worked, authorities say.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Donald S. Boyce said Rhodes faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each of the wire fraud offenses and a mandatory consecutive two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 18.

The convictions are the result of Rhodes’ conduct as an employee of St. Paul’s Senior Community, a not-for-profit retirement community in Belleville. In his position, Rhodes had access to sensitive patient/resident information, including medical records containing personally identifiable information.

From at least 2012 and continuing through approximately July 2017, Rhodes used the names, Social Security numbers and other information of patients/residents of St. Paul’s Senior Community, without legal authority, to obtain and maintain electric and gas service, water service, and satellite television service at his residence.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the assistance of the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.