Source: Petty Officer Accused Of Stealing Recruits' IDs

A Navy petty officer is in jail accused of stealing the identities of new recruits.

A source close to the investigation told Channel 2 Action News that Petty Officer 2nd Class Kevon Kerr stole personal information from recruits at Fort Gillem and used that information to file fake tax returns. Kerr then had the tax refunds mailed to a vacant home in East Point, the source said.

Kerr’s job was to process brand new recruits for basic training.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot spoke with Sgt. Shawn Buchanan of the East Point Police Department. He said they were alerted to the crime by the Georgia Department of Revenue. While police won't confirm that the victims are all naval recruits, they did tell Elliot that they are working with the military on the investigation.

"I can't comment on that at this time, but we are working with the NCIS from the Navy department,” said Buchanan.

An official comment from the Navy states, "The Navy takes any and all allegations of this nature seriously and is fully cooperating with local civilian and federal authorities currently investigating this incident. The Navy has begun contacting those affected individuals to inform them their identities may have been compromised and what steps those individuals can take. The Navy continually strives to ensure the protection and security of an individual's personally identifying information."

East Point police also arrested Tyrone Boyd and Lawanda Mitchell in connection with the scheme. The three are charged with 32 counts of identity theft.

"Right now, we do not know the exact number of people involved," said Buchanan.

"We have arrested three people so far … and hopefully more arrests will be made soon," he said.

Kerr and the others are being held at the Fulton County Jail on $96,000 bond.