Flint man used stolen Social Security number to obtain $201K and buy 15 vehicles, feds allege

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BAY CITY, MI — A Flint man is accused by federal authorities of using a stolen Social Security number to steal six figures from financial institutions throughout mid-Michigan, money he then used to buy more than a dozen vehicles.

In an Aug. 13 criminal complaint, a US Secret Service special agent wrote that beginning in December 2019, Eddie E. Hendrickson used a stolen Social Security number to fraudulently acquire $201,080.12 in loans from financial institutions. Hendrickson then used this money to buy 15 trucks, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles, the agent wrote.

The complaint lists 10 dates of Hendrickson’s alleged crimes, the first being Dec. 23, 2019. On that day, Hendrickson used the stolen Social Security number and driver’s license to apply for an auto loan at Bay Cycle Sales in Bangor Township. The loan was granted for two Honda motorcycles, totaling $21,000.36 in loss.

Hendrickson repeated this tactic nine more times, according to the complaint:

Dec. 28, 2019 — Hendrickson received a loan from Financial Plus Credit Union and bought two 2020 Polaris Sportsman 570 ATVs from Shiawassee Sports Center in Birch Run, totaling $17,563.08 in loss.

Dec. 30, 2019 — Hendrickson received a loan from Ally Financial and bought a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee from Champion Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM in Brighton, totaling $21,658 in loss.

· Jan. Aug. 8, 2020 — Hendrickson received a loan from Security Credit Union and bought two 2020 Polaris Outlaw ATVs from Shiawassee Sports Center, totaling $7,439.88 in loss.

· Jan. 9, 2020 — Hendrickson received another loan from Ally Financial and bought a 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 Rebel from Champion Chrysler, totaling $26,267.64 in loss.

· Jan. 10, 2020 — Hendrickson received a loan from PNC Bank and bought a 2018 Dodge Charger from Automania in Dearborn Heights, totaling $36,468.70 in loss.

· Jan. 13, 2020 — Hendrickson received a loan from Citizens Bank and bought a 2019 Dodge Charger from Extreme Dodge in Jackson, totaling $36,186 in loss.

· Jan. 14, 2020 — Hendrickson applied for an auto loan and Honda Powersports credit card at Genthe Power Sport in Southgate. The loan and card were granted by Honda Finance Citibank, and Hendrickson then financed two 2019 Honda ATVs on the credit card. He also bought a 2019 Honda motorcycle via a Honda Finance credit application, with the total loss being $17,637.32.

· Jan. 31, 2020 — Hendrickson applied for an auto loan at Bay Cycle Sales in Bangor Township and bought a 2019 Honda motorcycle totaling $12,459.04 in loss.

· Feb. 18, 2020 — Hendrickson used his previously obtained Honda Powersports credit card to buy a 2019 Honda motorcycle from Nord-Ride Motorsports in Mt. Morris, with a total loss of $4,400.

On March 20, a Genesee County Sheriff’s lieutenant contacted the person whose Social Security number Hendrickson was allegedly using. This person has a name similar to Hendrickson’s, but told the lieutenant he had never allowed anyone else to use his identity or Social Security number, the Secret Service agent wrote.

Having been arrested on unrelated charges, Hendrickson on April 7, 2020, was interviewed by the Genesee County Sheriff’s lieutenant and a Secret Service special agent.

“Hendrickson admitted to participating in a scheme to obtain vehicles fraudulently,” the agent wrote. “He admitted to picking the vehicles up from the dealerships and bringing them back to his home.”

In July 2020, the two Dodge Chargers bought by Hendrickson in January were tracked to a Flint address. A man at this location told authorities he was storing the trucks for Hendrickson, the agent wrote.

The lending institutions further told authorities no payments had been made on any of the loans, resulting in a total loss on each loan.

Hendrickson, 40, on Jan. 19 of this year had his initial appearance before US District Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris, who told him he was charged with single counts of identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and bank fraud. Identity theft is a 15-year felony, while aggravated identity theft is punishable by up to two years in prison, to be served consecutively with any other stint. Bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Hendrickson again appeared before Morris on March 2 for a detention hearing. Through defense attorney Haralambos D. Mihas, Hendrickson consented to being held in custody pending trial.

Hendrickson is next due in court on March 14.

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