Atlanta Resident Sentenced For Identity Theft And Social Security Fraud

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- Sabir Jaquail Grant, 23, of Atlanta, Ga., was sentenced on January 8, 2013, by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Judge, to serve a term of 12 months in prison for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit Social Security fraud. In addition, he was also ordered to serve a three-year period of supervised release upon release from prison. Grant’s pleaded guilty on Feb. 22, 2011, to conspiracy and identity theft charges.

Grant and his co-conspirator, Joshua Phillips, came to the attention of law enforcement when Wal-Mart Loss Prevention associates observed them attempting to purchase cellular telephone accounts with suspicious North Carolina driver’s licenses. Knoxville Police Department officers arrested both defendants on Apr. 8, 2010, at the Wal-Mart location on Clinton Highway. Grant and Phillips were found in the possession of numerous false identity documents, including counterfeit Social Security cards. Both defendants subsequently entered guilty pleas to federal charges. Phillips is presently serving a sentence of 24 months in prison.

This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Knoxville Police Department, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Dale, Jr. and D. Gregory Weddle represented the United States.