Prisoner Accused of Running Identity Theft Scheme Behind Bars

I guess once you’ve read all the books in the prison library and you’re done with the day time talk shows — you’d probably turn to elaborate identity theft schemes if you were a prisoner doing time for a previous bout of identity theft. That, or turn to tattoo design. Still, it’s probably best to go with what you know.

33-year-old Lonny Bristow allegedly used a prison phone to pose as a Holiday Inn executive, telling desk clerks that police needed their help to nab an escaped prisoner who had checked in. With that as his ‘in’,  he would con the front desk clerk out of guests’ names and credit card numbers.

A grand jury has indicted Bristow on 28 charges, including theft and fraud.

Bristow is serving a 13-year sentence at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility near Lucasville. He was previously convicted of stealing a suburban Columbus man’s credit cards and running up $14,000 in charges.