US authorities have arrested a Briton for stealing the identity of a deceased American, Customs and Border Protection said.
The State Department's Diplomatic Security Service found that John Skelton, 41, of Yorkshire, presented a fraudulently obtained US passport to reenter the United States after visiting Britain, a CBP statement said.
The resident of Baltimore, Maryland, was arrested late Monday at the city's international airport and charged with identity fraud, false statements and being an impostor to a US citizen.
"Stealing another person's identity is a very serious crime. But stealing the identity of a deceased person is despicable," said Stephen Dearborn, CBP acting port director for Baltimore.
US authorities determined that Skelton allegedly stole the identity of US national Kurt Branham who died in 1994.
Copyright 2010 AFP European Edition
