DHS employee charged with fraud

HOUSTON, TX -- A 46-year-old Laredo man has been charged with using the personal information of deceased individuals in online loan scam, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

David Allen Parker made his initial appearance today, at which time the indictment was unsealed. He will remain in custody pending a hearing set for July 24.

The charges allege that from approximately 2018 through July 2019, Parker devised a scheme to defraud online lending institutions. Parker allegedly applied for lines of credit in excess of $33,000 using stolen personal identifying information belonging to deceased individuals. Parker submitted the loan applications containing misappropriated personal identifying information through the internet to lending institutions in New York, according to the charges.

If convicted of wire fraud, Parker faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI - Dallas, Abilene and San Antonio Divisions, DHS - Office of Inspector General and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation.