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A 39-year-old man from the US has been sentenced to 81 months in prison after attempting to evade child support payments by faking his own death.
Jesse Kipf was convicted of computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, following a scheme where he manipulated government systems to falsely declare himself deceased.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) detailed Kipf’s elaborate plan on Tuesday. In January 2023, Kipf used a physician’s credentials to gain unauthorized access to Hawaii’s Death Registry System.
He created a fake case that recorded his own death, even going so far as to complete a Death Certificate Worksheet, signing off as his own medical certifier using a doctor’s digital signature.
The paperwork appeared legitimate, leading many government databases to list Kipf as deceased. Meanwhile, he continued to live under the radar, enjoying the benefits of no longer being obligated to make child support payments or catch up on arrears.
Evidence presented in court showed Kipf’s internet search history, which included phrases like “Remove California child support for deceased.”
Kipf’s criminal activities didn’t stop there. He stole additional credentials, allowing him access to other states’ death registries, private business networks, and governmental and corporate systems. He then attempted to sell access to these networks on the dark web.
Kipf eventually admitted to his actions. Once he completes his prison term, which will be at least five years and eight months, he will face a bill exceeding $195,000 to cover both his unpaid child support and the damage caused by his illegal activities.
This wasn’t Kipf’s first run-in with the law. The New York Times reports that he has a prior conviction for possessing stolen financial transaction devices and is also facing charges for using stolen credit cards.
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