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A Louisiana man may hold the dubious distinction as one of the first criminals to be sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for using a state-authorized digital driver's license mobile app to defraud credit unions and banks.
Louisiana was one of the first states to issue digital driver's licenses (DDLs) in 2018. As of January, only six other states including Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah offer DDLs, according to UP, a finance and travel news website. Other states are developing DDLs.
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Robert Lee Daniel, III, of Alexandria downloaded LA Wallet, the state-authorized digital driver's license mobile app on his smartphone in December 2020. To obtain the DDL, Daniel stole the personal information of a person listed as A.S.M., who was incarcerated at LaSalle Correctional Center in Olla. While Daniel was committing this crime, he was out of prison on probation for committing bank fraud in three Louisiana parishes, according court documents.
In January 2021, Daniel used Louisiana's digital license and falsely represented himself to be A.S.M. to open an account at the $131 million Cenla Federal Credit Union in Alexandria. He also used the DDL to obtain a $41,844 loan from the credit union to buy a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado. In February he also applied for a $5,000 personal loan at Cenla, but court documents did not indicate whether that loan had been approved.
On the auto loan application, Daniel falsely claimed he worked at a company that paid him a $78,000 annual income.
Court documents also showed Daniel used the DDL to open accounts at the $667 million Pelican State Credit Union based in Baton Rouge, the $5.4 million Louisiana Baptist Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, Colfax Banking, Gibsland Bank and Trust Co., Evangeline Bank and Trust Co. and Cottonport Bank.
What's more, Daniel's indictment showed he deposited a $4,800 fraudulent check at Louisiana Baptist FCU and more than $13,000 in rubber checks at the banks.
Although Daniel was originally charged with seven felony counts of bank fraud and seven felony counts of aggravated ID theft, he agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated ID theft, according to a plea deal.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced Daniel to 65 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay $45,512 in restitution.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
