The shocking case of identity theft that spanned over 30 years has finally reached a climax. Matthew David Keirans, once a hospital administrator, entered a guilty plea on charges of stealing another man's identity. This admission comes after a life of deceit had pushed the victim of his crimes, William Donald Woods, to the brink of ruin.
(Photo : Unsplash/ Sasun Bughdaryan)
Unraveling a Decades-Long Deception
Keirans' fraudulent journey began while working with Woods in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the late 1980s. While transitioning from colleague to clandestine perpetrator, Keirans uplifted his life to Hartland, Wisconsin, leaving Woods flounder. The implications of his actions were profound. Woods faced homelessness, legal charges, and even wrongful incarceration in a mental institution.
As this story unfolded, Keirans admitted to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of making a misleading statement to a National Credit Union Administration-insured institution. This occurred in a courtroom on an unremarkable Monday, which would go down in infamy for both men involved.
The Harrowing Impact on the Victim
William Donald Woods' misfortune peaked in 2019 when he was jailed after attempting to resolve fraudulent debts accrued in his name. Despite presenting valid identification, he could not navigate a series of security questions at a California bank, leading to his arrest. This arrest spiraled into 428 days in county jail and 147 days in a mental hospital.
Throughout this period, Keirans leveraged Woods' identity to secure eight loans valued at over $200,000 from credit unions. The act of theft extended into personal life as well, as Keirans contracted a marriage and had a child while using Woods' identity.
False Allegations and Their Consequences
It was not until Woods pieced together Keirans' employment at the University of Iowa Hospital that the mystery began to unravel. In January 2023, once Woods alerted hospital security, it set off a series of investigations that would ultimately unravel Keirans' falsehoods.
The investigative detective meticulously picked apart Keirans' charade, including using DNA evidence to disprove any biological connection between Keirans and Woods' father in Kentucky. This scientific proof was key to exposing the fraudulent narrative Keirans had maintained for years.
The Discovery and Guilty Plea
After learning his true identity had been usurped, Woods fervently sought to reclaim it. In response, Keirans made repeated false police reports to thwart Woods' efforts. He even went so far as to suggest Woods was "crazy" and should be incarcerated.
Eventually, his façade crumbled when confronted with the DNA evidence, forcing Keirans to confess to his role in this harrowing scheme. He also admitted to supplying law enforcement with falsified documents to further his fraud.
The Cost of a Stolen Identity
As Keirans awaits sentencing, which is currently held in federal custody, the charges carry a minimum of two years to a maximum of 32 years in prison. Moreover, he is subject to a punitive fine of $1.25 million. The dollar amount is a testament to the severity and impact of his criminal undertakings.
Reflections on a Justice System Challenged
For Woods, justice is on the horizon, albeit substantially delayed. However, this case serves as a convoluted tale of identity theft's far-reaching and personal consequences for society. As the case continues to develop, it remains a stark example of the vigilant protection required for personal information in an ever-connected world.
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