Thread: Convicted cop killer stole man's identity

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16813413/

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Convicted cop killer stole man's identity
Thief stole money from bank account, purchased a used Cadillac Escalade
By William Kates
The Associated Press
Updated: 1:55 p.m. PT Jan 25, 2007
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The real John T. Healy wants everyone to know he's no cop killer.

"I'm just a regular guy," said Healy, 47, of Yardley, Pa., who has endured a nightmare over the past two weeks after learning that the man who apparently stole his identity two years ago was charged with — and ultimately convicted of — killing an upstate New York police officer.

It was bad enough the thief stole $3,500 from his bank accounts, purchased a used Cadillac Escalade under his name, bought car insurance and even bailed a criminal cohort out of jail, which led to an armed bounty hunter showing up at his doorstep.

Now, Healy runs the risk of forever having his name linked with a convicted murderer.

"It's not so much the money; I've gotten that back. It's the hassle and aggravation, over and over," said Healy, a salesman for Home Depot. "And seeing your name in the paper being charged with murdering a cop is pretty intense."

The man authorities prosecuted under the name John Healy was convicted Monday of murder in the slaying of New Hartford Police Officer Joseph Corr following a million-dollar jewelry store robbery. Corr, 30, was gunned down last February as he chased "Healy" and an accomplice, who authorities say was the triggerman.

The defendant was indicted as "John Healy, et al" after a check of his fingerprints turned up about 20 aliases. Prosecutors settled on John T. Healy because he had a Pennsylvania driver's license with that name on it.

After jury selection in the murder case had begun, prosecutor Kurt Hameline learned of the real John T. Healy in a call from Yardley police, who were investigating the stolen-identity case.

But Hameline said prosecutors decided to go ahead with the trial under the Healy name rather than introduce an element of doubt into the case. The jury took just two hours to convict the fake Healy after deliberating for just two hours.

The fake Healy was known to the FBI as Toussaint Martin, 38, of Philadelphia.

But "we're still not 100 percent sure who he really is. Toussaint Martin is a name he was using most recently before he was John Healy, but we're not even sure of that one. It didn't make sense to make a motion to change his name if we don't even know if it's the right one," Hameline said.

If the defendant's identity is firmly established before he is sentenced in March, prosecutors will ask then to change his name, Hameline said. If not, he will be sentenced as John Healy and prosecutors will ask a judge to issue a legal document clarifying he is not the real John T. Healy.

"We understand the problems this has created for him and obviously we're sorry that he's had to suffer these consequences," Hameline said.


Healy suspects his identity was stolen in 2005 when he lived in an apartment in Yardley. He said that after some maintenance men left his apartment, a paycheck and benefits package from his employer, including his Social Security number, were missing.

He said he had to endure lengthy interrogations from customs officials when he returned from a trip to Canada and from ship employees when he came back from a cruise in the Caribbean.

Healy said he was unaware of the murder trial until two weeks ago, when he received calls from the news media and some wisecracking friends. "I had buddies call up and say, `Hey, can I get some jewelry for my wife?'" he said.

Healy, who is separated with two young daughters, said his credit appears fine. He recently bought a new house.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16813413/


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© 2007 MSNBC.com

this is another good reason that Bush should focus on shutting down anyone who steals or uses a stolen ID. This poor man will have problems all his life.