Vanessa Roberts Avery, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Elvis Perez, also known as "Pops," was sentenced to five years in federal prison. The 60-year-old Bridgeport resident received this sentence from U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven for his role in a multistate identity theft scheme.
The court documents and statements revealed that Perez participated in a scheme led by his son-in-law, Tyshon Walker, and daughter Stephanie Perez. Starting in September 2020, Walker acquired personal information from residents across several states to apply for vehicle loans at dealerships located in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island. The loans were used to purchase motorcycles and other vehicles. Once approved using stolen identities, runners like Elvis Perez collected the vehicles with fake driver's licenses containing the victim's details but showing their photographs.
Perez traveled to multiple car dealerships as part of this operation and stole at least four vehicles. He was compensated by Walker for each vehicle he helped acquire and transport back to Connecticut for resale on Facebook Marketplace.
Perez has a criminal record that includes 12 felony convictions. He has been detained since his arrest on July 19, 2023. On June 11, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.
Walker and Stephanie Perez have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
The investigation into this matter involved several law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force; police departments from Bridgeport; Hopkinton (R.I.), Westtown – East Goshen Regional (Pa.), and Washington Township (N.J.). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Heather M. Cherry are prosecuting the case.