A federal judge sentenced Roderick Michael Bates, 56, to over four years in prison. 

Mr Bates pleaded guilty to identity theft and wire fraud for stealing from a local farm machinery and equipment business in Salemburg.

“This Georgia criminal chose poorly coming up here to steal from a local business in Sampson County,” said U.S. attorney Ellis Boyle. “Let this be a message to out-of-state criminals who think they can swindle the good people of the Eastern District of NC. We will find you, no matter where you are, and put you behind bars. Cheaters never win.”

Mr Bates used stolen identities with fake driver’s licences to secure financing for farm machinery and equipment from a local Sampson County business. 

Using these identities, Mr Bates fraudulently purchased high-value items totalling more than $65,000, including a zero-turn mower, an Evolution D5 Ranger golf cart, and 12-foot and 16-foot dump trailers. 

Mr Bates then had the business ship the items to him, hundreds of miles away, outside North Carolina. 

The law enforcement officers arrested him during the delivery and recovered the stolen equipment.