LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A Birmingham man, Keonta Demarius Cottingham, 27, was arrested in Limestone County after authorities linked him to a multi-state identity theft and fraud case originating in Vermont.
Detectives from the Williston Police Department in Vermont contacted the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) about a financial fraud investigation involving a local Vermont business. According to authorities, the business’s banking information had been stolen, and fraudulent checks were deposited using a stolen identity.
Cottingham was tracked to a location in Limestone County. When deputies responded to a call for service there, they pulled over a vehicle leaving the scene. Inside the vehicle, they found an AR-15 pistol in the passenger seat.
A search of the vehicle uncovered multiple stolen identities, including the one used in the Vermont case.
Cottingham admitted to having a violent criminal history, including attempted murder, robbery, and shooting into occupied buildings. He is currently on probation from prior convictions.
He was arrested and charged with the following:
Trafficking in Stolen Identities
Identity Theft
Possession of a Pistol by a Violent Felon
As of now, bond has not been set, and the case remains under active investigation. Authorities anticipate additional charges.
Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin emphasized the importance of community involvement:
“As our community continues to grow, we remind all residents that if you see something, say something. Together, we can continue to protect our neighborhoods from dangerous individuals and criminal activity.”
