State Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft Charges

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Manuel Orosa, Chief, City of Miami Police Department, announce that Bernard Beliard, a former state corrections officer assigned to the South Florida Reception Center, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(3) and 1028A(a)(1). Beliard is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2013 before Judge Altonaga.

According to court records, Beliard used his official law enforcement position to access personal identifying information of inmates who were checked in at the South Florida Regional Center from October 2012 to January 2013.

From October 24, 2012 through January 4, 2013, Beliard met with a FBI confidential human source (CHS) on four separate occasions and provided the CHS with State of Florida Department of Corrections’ daily intake lists. These lists contained the names of approximately 805 inmates, along with corresponding personal identifiers, including Social Security numbers and dates of birth. Beliard sold the inmates’ personal identifying information to the CHS after having been told that the information would be used to commit tax refund fraud. In exchange for the lists, Beliard accepted a total of $9,600 in cash.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI Miami Area Public Corruption Task Force, with the assistance of the City of Miami Police Department and the Florida Department of Corrections-Office of Inspector General (FDOC-OIG). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin W. Waugh.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.