Shavon Casson Sentenced

Madison, Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin -- Erik C. Peterson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Shavon Casson, 26, of Rockford, Illinois, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb to 65 months in federal prison, without parole, for identity theft, theft by fraudulent use of a social security number, and student loan fraud. Casson was also ordered to pay a total of $40,785.16 in restitution to the following victims:

U.S. Department of Education - $18,432.00
Wells Fargo Bank - $8,603.61
Park Bank - $12,888.55
Fiduciary Real Estate Development, Inc. - $861.00

Casson pleaded guilty to these charges on January 29, 2007.

In November and December 2004, Casson used the identities of her dead sister and cousin to obtain fraudulent student loans. In 2006, Casson was living in Fitchburg under another assumed identity and she fraudulently used that person's social security number to open bank accounts and gain employment. While employed at a local nursing home under the assumed identity, Casson stole a 73-year old resident's debit card and made over $12,000 in purchases in thirteen days.

The charges against Casson were the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Department of Education and the Madison Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.