Crime & Safety

Former Melrose Firefighter Pleads Guilty To Identity Theft: Report

The man reportedly used the identity of a teen who had died more than two decades ago.

The person worked for the Melrose Fire Department for a short time.
The person worked for the Melrose Fire Department for a short time. (Dakota Antelman/Patch)

MELROSE, MA — A former Melrose firefighter has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges, according to a report from NBC 10 Boston.

The Braintree resident has reportedly pled to committing passport fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was arrested shortly after graduating from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy last year. He reportedly used the identity of a 13-year-old who died in Boston in 2002.
Investigation into the man began in 2023 when a death record, social security number, and parental information fully matched the identity he provided while applying for a passport. During his plea hearing, he testified that his real last name is Nguyen.

Read more at NBC 10 Boston.

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