Cape Coral, FL – June 11, 2025 — A 59-year-old Georgia man, Ronald B. Hatten, was arrested in Cape Coral after attempting to use stolen identity information to purchase a luxury 2023 Mercedes G-Wagon.
Police responded to a home after a notary arrived to finalize the car sale, only for the homeowner’s wife to discover her husband’s name was on a driver’s license—with someone else’s photo. While discussing the confusion, an Uber minivan arrived with Hatten inside. His appearance matched the fraudulent license.
When confronted, Hatten claimed he was there to sign paperwork. However, Cape Coral police say Hatten was part of a wider identity theft scheme and was being paid $500 for his role. A photo taken by the homeowner captured messages on Hatten’s phone with instructions related to the scam.
Authorities found Hatten also had a warrant from Alabama for a similar identity theft case. During a search, they recovered a debit card with another person’s name, which Hatten claimed he had found.
Cape Coral Police say Hatten traveled from Atlanta at the request of an associate. The Economic Crimes Unit is continuing the investigation.
The Federal Trade Commission reported 1.1 million identity theft cases in 2024, with over $12.5 billion lost to fraud.
Police urge the public to stay alert, never share personal details over the phone, and consider locking their credit to avoid identity theft.
Hatten faces two counts of criminal use of personal identification.
