RICHMOND, Va. – A scheme to skip town on a one-way charter flight using fake IDs could land Billy G. Jefferson in prison for an extra 17 years.
The local developer and landlord pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to a pair of identity theft-related charges. Jefferson allegedly forged IDs using his brother’s personal information and attempted to use the documents to flee to England last year before his first plea hearing.
The two charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 17 years in prison and add to his two standing historic tax credit fraud charges that carry a maximum of 20 years. Jefferson will proceed to sentencing on Sept. 9 facing four charges and up to 37 years in federal prison.
Wednesday’s charges – unlawful transfer of a false identification document and aggravated identity theft – were added after a May grand jury indictment. In December he pleaded guilty to one count each of major fraud against the United States and engaging in unlawful monetary transaction.