On November 2 2, 2023, the Commonwealth Journal published an article involving a Somerset
man. According to the article, Jesse Kipf was indicted on five counts of computer fraud, three
counts of aggravated identity theft, and two counts of making false statements on applications.
According to the indictment, Kipf knowingly used the identity of three different people to
commit wire fraud and computer fraud. He is believed to have made false statements to federally
insured corporations to open credit accounts.
The Kentucky statute on identity theft states that a person is guilty of this type of crime when
they “knowingly obtain, possess, transfer, use, or attempt to use another person’s personal
identifying information... For the purpose of making gain or obtaining a benefit for himself or
another person.” The information of the case reported fits this definition from the Kentucky
statute. Kipf is accused of knowingly stealing three people’s identities in order to commit wire
fraud, computer fraud, and open credit accounts. In other words, Kipf was trying to obtain
money and financially benefit himself.
Kipf was indicted of three counts of aggravated identity theft. This charge is most likely because
he used three different people’s identities to commit the crimes. The statute states an individual
can be charged with multiple counts of the same crime.
Reference:
Slavey , C. (2023, November 22).
Somerset man accused of fraud, identity theft after Federal
Investigation
. Commonwealth Journal.
https://www.somerset-
kentucky.com/news/somerset-man-accused-of-fraud-identity-theft-after-federal-
investigation/article_8df7c1ae-895e-11ee-8830-bbd1fb3bdc36.html
2022 Kentucky Revised Statutes :: Chapter 514 - theft and related offenses :: 514.160 theft of
identity.
Justia Law. (n.d.).
https://law.justia.com/codes/kentucky/2022/chapter-
514/section-514-160/
