MICHIGAN — Three Michigan residents have pleaded guilty to identity theft and fraud involving over $570,000 in unclaimed property.
Averill Dintaman, 46, of Mount Pleasant, pleaded guilty on Oct. 30 to conspiracy to commit false pretenses over $100,000, uttering and publishing, forgery, and using a computer to commit a crime.
Daniel Nolan, 51, also from Mount Pleasant, pleaded guilty on Nov. 14 to conspiracy to commit false pretenses over $100,000, forgery, and using a computer to commit a crime.
Dwayne Johnson, 59, of Saint Louis, Gratiot County, pleaded guilty on Nov. 14 to attempted false pretenses over $100,000, counterfeiting/forging a state ID to commit a felony, and identity theft.
According to state officials, in 2022, the three agreed to steal a victim’s identity and forge a power of attorney to obtain an unclaimed property check worth $579,551. Johnson allegedly posed as the victim at the Michigan Department of Treasury’s Unclaimed Property office to get a second copy of the check.
Attorney General Dana Nessel said, “This was a deliberate attempt to steal more than half a million dollars from the State of Michigan and from the rightful owner of these funds. We remain committed to holding those who commit identity theft, fraud, or forgery accountable.”
Sentencing dates are set for Dintaman on Dec. 11, Johnson on Jan. 15, and Nolan on Jan. 22.
