👤 Who: Michael Scott Hillwig, 59, of Camden, New Jersey
⚖️ What: Pleaded guilty to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and passport forgery
📅 When: Guilty plea entered February 4, 2026; crimes began in May 2023
📍 Where: South Carolina and Florida, including Niceville, Bonifay, and Winter Garden
🎯 Why: To fraudulently access and withdraw funds using stolen personal information
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Identity Theft, Passport Forgery in North Florida Case
A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a sweeping fraud scheme that stretched across multiple states and targeted victims’ bank accounts using stolen identities and forged U.S. passport cards.
Michael Scott Hillwig, 59, of Camden, New Jersey, admitted to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false use or forgery of a passport, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The plea was announced Wednesday by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin.
Federal prosecutors say Hillwig unlawfully obtained sensitive personal identifying information — including names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and passport card numbers — beginning in May 2023. Investigators allege he then used forged U.S. passport cards bearing his photograph but containing victims’ information to withdraw money from their bank accounts.
Court records show Hillwig traveled to financial institutions across South Carolina and Florida, including stops in Bonifay, Niceville, and Winter Garden. At each location, he allegedly provided bank tellers with a victim’s Social Security number and a fraudulent passport card to access and drain accounts.
“This case underscores how aggressively criminals pursue personal information online and the devastating consequences for victims,” Heekin said, emphasizing that federal prosecutors remain equally relentless in pursuing offenders who exploit stolen identities.
Hillwig faces up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud charges, up to 10 years for passport forgery, and a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin M. Keen.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker.
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