Bad speller charged in identity-theft plot
HINTON, W.Va. - Bad grammar and spelling tripped up a man who was trying to steal Social Security numbers and other information from job seekers by impersonating West Virginia’s governor, police said.
Matthew Don Reed of Hinton is being held on a $10,000 bond on charges of impersonating a public official, impersonating a state Division of Natural Resources officer, and forgery of a public document. A call to the 32-year-old’s attorney was not immediately returned.
Reed told people he met online that he was a Division of Natural Resources officer and persuaded them to submit job applications with copies of their birth certificates and other information, State Police Sergeant T.L. Bragg said.
Reed then hired a Chicago man to send letters to people interested in jobs, police said. That man became suspicious after Reed gave him a letter purportedly from Governor Joe Manchin to send to an applicant.
The letter lacked the governor’s seal and was riddled with misspellings and grammatical errors.
“It’s nice to have you as an employee of West Virginia,’’ the letter said. “Your super (boss) Matt talk a lot of thangs about you. I hope you stay with us a long time. If you got ? please ask Matt.’’
Police are investigating whether Reed used any personal information from applicants.
