Associate of Former Moberly Correctional Center Inmate Sentenced on Federal Conspiracy Charges

ST. LOUIS, MO—Anthony Johnson and his two associates referred to themselves as the “Hilton” family. Between July 2009 and March 2011, Johnson engaged in a conspiracy to steal identification information of unsuspecting victims, open new credit accounts using the stolen identities, and use the fraudulent credit accounts to deposit money into the accounts of inmates at the Moberly Correctional Center (MCC). According to court documents, once they obtained credit accounts, they wire-transferred money into the accounts of inmates, which was then sent to Johnson’s co-defendants and other people outside of MCC.

Co-defendant Timothy Moore, Memphis, Tennesee, was sentenced October 16 to 37 months in prison for conspiracy to commit identity theft.

Anthony Johnson was sentenced in May to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in excess of $80,000. Co-defendant Cedric Walton, Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced in August to 18 months in prison. All defendants were sentenced by United States District Judge Henry Autrey.

This case was investigated by the Postal Inspection Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Moberly, Missouri Police Department; and the Missouri Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorney Reginald Harris handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.