An anonymous phone call led investigators to a case of identity fraud with a twist.
In late February, a University of Arkansas at Monticello employee received a telephone call informing her that there was a student attending the university under a fraudulent name: Jarell Davis Terry.
Jarell Davis Terry is in the Arkansas Department of Correction and has been since 2011.
The student was 41-year-old Jerome Davis Terry, Jarell’s father.
Jerome Terry of Dermott is alleged to have used his son’s identity to obtain a $11,145 student loan to attend the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology at McGehee, according to Drew County Circuit Court documents.
Approximately $8,000 in cash went to Jerome Terry.
Police obtained evidence that a student using Terry’s name had received a loan in 2006 but defaulted on that loan making him ineligible for a student loan.
Terry admitted that he used his son’s name to obtain the student loan, according to Arkansas State Police Special Agent Rick McKelvey’s case notes of his interview of Terry.
“I’m doing it for him (Jarell) so when he gets out he can set off on a career; a vocational trade skill,” Terry reportedly told McKelvey.
“My benefit,” Terry reportedly said, “it’s not that I’m getting the cash. The cash, I pay for me and him to be able to live when he gets out. That’s how I use the money. I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I send him money while he is locked up and I’m trying to save money to buy a house for when he gets out so we can live. His mother got murdered in Dallas.”
Terry said his son was not aware that he was attending college in his name, according to McKelvey’s case notes.
Tenth Judicial District Prosecutor Thomas Deen charged Jerome Terry with financial identity fraud and second-degree forgery.
Because he previously has been convicted of more than one felony, Terry faces enhanced penalties if convicted these crimes. Each crime is punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.
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