Show-Me State Times

A St. Louis man, Darryon M. Sutherlin, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two counts of identity theft after being found with information belonging to at least 10 victims. According to court documents, Sutherlin admitted to using the stolen identity of a New Jersey resident to finance a $25,850 loan for a BMW and to obtain an $8,500 personal loan as well as two credit cards in the victim’s name.

On December 7, 2022, Sutherlin deposited two altered U.S. Treasury checks into his account totaling over $10,000 and transferred some of those funds before spending the rest. Police were alerted on January 31, 2023, when his property manager conducted a welfare check due to unpaid rent and disconnected phone numbers. The property manager discovered marijuana and multiple driver’s licenses bearing different names but showing Sutherlin’s photo.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police obtained a search warrant and arrested Sutherlin on February 1, 2023. At that time, officers recovered additional stolen checks—one partially washed—unauthorized bank cards, false driver’s licenses (including one in the New Jersey victim’s name), paperwork related to banks, and opened U.S. mail containing remittance slips used for bill payments. In total, police seized about 23 unauthorized debit and credit cards, approximately 13 fake driver’s licenses, and two false Social Security cards linked to more than ten identity theft victims.

Sutherlin also admitted that he applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan in March 2021 by falsely claiming ownership of a construction business and submitting fraudulent tax documents. He received $20,833 from the program and spent most of it immediately.

After being indicted on May 15, 2024, Sutherlin obtained another $8,500 loan using the stolen identity of a Massachusetts resident at a Collinsville credit union branch before withdrawing all funds in two transactions. He has been held in jail since this offense was uncovered.

Sutherlin is scheduled for sentencing on January 26. The crime of identity theft carries up to fifteen years in prison and fines up to $250,000; restitution will also be ordered.

The investigation involved several agencies: the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General; the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; and the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.