Mississippi County Sheriff Indicted on Charges of Identity Theft

Cape Girardeau, MO – Cory Hutcheson, 34, of East Prairie, MO, appeared today in United States District Court in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, following his indictment on eleven felony counts of Identity Theft in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028(a)(7).  The indictment charges Hutcheson with illegally possessing and transferring the means of identification of others, in this case mobile telephone numbers, without lawful authority, and in connection with the commission of the state felony crime of Forgery.

Mr. Hutcheson has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and was released on bond.  If convicted, Mr. Hutcheson faces a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment on each count, and a maximum fine of up to $250,000.

United States Attorney Jeff Jensen stated, “This office will prosecute people who violate federal law regardless of their positions.”

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.  Assistant United States Attorney Keith Sorrell is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As is always the case, charges set forth in the complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.