HARRISBURG, PA — A Philadelphia County man has pleaded guilty to a series of felony charges stemming from an elaborate scheme to steal a classmate’s identity, use it to obtain official documents, and apply for a concealed carry firearms permit. Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the plea on Wednesday.
Anthony Percell, 56, admitted in Philadelphia County Court to charges of insurance fraud, theft by deception, identity theft, and forgery. Authorities revealed that Percell had used the identity of a deceased classmate, including filing for a driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance, and a concealed carry permit, potentially putting public safety at risk.
Under the terms of a plea agreement, Percell was sentenced to six to 23 months in prison, followed by seven years of probation. This sentence will run concurrently with a federal prison term Percell is already serving for using the same stolen identity to secure a passport and airport access.
“This defendant brazenly stole the identity of a classmate who died decades ago and used that information to apply for a concealed firearms permit and other privileges, potentially putting the public at risk,” said Attorney General Sunday. He commended both state and federal investigators for their work in halting Percell’s decades-long deception.
Along with his sentence, Percell is prohibited from using anyone else’s identity for any purpose and must surrender all assets and materials obtained through fraudulent means. Investigators also uncovered that he had filed a workers’ compensation claim under the stolen identity.
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