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Jesse Kipf, a Kentucky man, has been sentenced after he allegedly faked his own death to avoid paying child support.
According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Kentucky, Kipf was sentenced to 81 months in prison on Monday, August 19. The sentencing reportedly arrived after the 39-year-old pled guilty to computer fraud and aggravated identity theft in April, per KKTV.
The press release adds that the man is required to serve 85% of his sentence under federal law. Furthermore, he will reportedly also serve three years of supervised release.
According to the release, Kipf accessed the Hawaii Death Registry System in January 2023. He allegedly used the login credentials “of a physician living in another state.” From there, he allegedly created a ‘case’ for his own death.”
At that point, he allegedly filled out a “Hawaii Death Certificate Worksheet,” certifying his death by “using the digital signature of the doctor.” As a result, Kipf was then registered as a “deceased person in many government databases.”
Per the release, Kipf’s plea agreement asserted that he carried out the scheme “in part, to avoid his outstanding child support obligations.” Furthermore, the amount he owed was reportedly $195,758.65.
According to Fox News, after carrying out the scheme, Kipf also used his computer skills to open “credit cards with false Social Security numbers in an attempt to live a new life.”
“This scheme was a cynical and destructive effort, based in part on the inexcusable goal of avoiding his child support obligations,” Carlton S. Shier, IV, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, stated in the press release. “This case is a stark reminder of how damaging criminals with computers can be, and how critically important computer and online security is to us all. Fortunately… this case will serve as a warning to other cybercriminals, and he will face the consequences of his disgraceful conduct.”
According to CNN, Kipf’s attorney, Tommy Miceli, shared a brief statement with the outlet after the sentencing.
“We respect the court’s decision,” Miceli said.
Furthermore, Kipf isn’t the only individual to land behind bars after being accused of a shocking crime. As The Shade Room previously reported, 68-year-old former food director Vera Liddell was sentenced to nine years in prison earlier this month.
Authorities reportedly discovered that between 2020 and 2022, Liddell stole “massive amounts” of food intended for use in take-home meals for remote students.
Additionally, the meals reportedly consisted mainly of chicken wings valued at around $1.5 million.
