A Kentucky man admitted in March to illegally reporting his death by accessing a secured state health registry.
WDKY reported that Jesse Kipf, 39, used a physician’s credentials to open a case for himself in the Hawaii Death Registry System. Kipf not only forged the physician’s signature so he would be listed as dead in various government databases, but he also used stolen credentials to access other states’ death registries.
A plea agreement detailed how Kipf faked his death, partly because he owed his ex-wife more than $100,000 in child support. NBC reported that he agreed to pay his ex-wife — in addition to $79,000 in restitution for damaging multiple governmental and corporate computer networks.
Kipf also admitted to selling access to these computer networks — which he also accessed to steal credentials, according to WKYT.
Kipf was charged with computer fraud, identity theft, and making false applications for credit or debit cards at two banks. However, some charges were dropped as part of last month’s plea agreement.
Kipf still faces seven years in prison and a $500,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for April 12.
[Feature Photo: Jesse Kipf/Grayson County Detention Center]
