A Kentucky resident has admitted to fabricating his death to evade paying over $100,000 in outstanding child support to his previous wife, as outlined in a petition compromise submitted to federal court in the last month.
Kentuky Man Charges with Aggravated Identity Theft, Computer Fraud
Jesse E. Kipf, aged 39, plead guilty to allegations of aggravated identity theft and computer fraud in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on March 29.
According to the plea agreement, Kipf gained access to the Hawaii death registry system in January 2023 using the credentials of a doctor living in a different state. He then generated a falsified death record for himself, certifying it under his authority as a medical professional.
Moreover, Kipf admitted to hacking into private business, governmental, and corporate networks using stolen information and attempting to sell network access to online buyers.
Kipf's actions resulted in estimated damages surpassing $195,000, including losses exceeding $79,000 to governmental and corporate networks, and over $116,000 in losses suffered by his ex-wife. He has committed to reimbursing all affected parties as stipulated in the plea agreement.
Initially accused by a federal grand jury in November 2023 on numerous counts of computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, Kipf faced serious charges for unauthorized access to state websites and financial institutions, along with the opening of credit accounts using false data.
Following his admission of a plea deal, Kipf now faces the highest prison sentence of seven years and fines of up to $500,000, as per court records.
Man Fakes Own Death To Evade Child Support
Kipf came under scrutiny from the United States Attorney's Office in November following investigations by the FBI in Louisville, Kentucky, the Department of the Attorney General for Hawaii, and the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, regarding his cyber crimes.
Kipf confessed to fabricating a Hawaii Death Certificate Worksheet in January 2023, creating a false death certificate for himself, and assuming the role of the medical certifier. He then proceeded to access the death registry systems of other states using stolen credentials. His actions caused damage to multiple computer networks and resulted in the theft of numerous individuals' identities.
Kipf faced charges of computer fraud related to breaches of GuestTek Interactive Entertainment in February 2023 and Milestone Inc. in June 2023.
The damages incurred by Kipf, stemming from avoiding child support payments and gaining network access, exceeded $195,000, as indicated in court documents.
As part of the plea deal, Kipf agreed to pay restitution to various entities, including the state of Hawaii, Milestone Inc., GuestTek Interactive Entertainment, and the California child support agency. Additionally, he consented to forfeiting his electronic devices and $16,218 worth of gold and silver coins.
Initially facing multiple charges of computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 30 years, Kipf's charges were reduced after accepting the plea deal. His sentencing is scheduled for April 12th in federal court in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Under the plea deal terms, Kipf faces a maximum of five years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft and a minimum of two years for computer fraud, along with a hefty fine of $250,000.
