Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 49-year-old Darrius R. Outling of Buffalo has been arraigned before Buffalo City Court Andrew C. LoTempio on four counts of Identity Theft in the First Degree, Class “D” felonies, two counts of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, Class “E” felonies, and one count of Identity Theft in the Second Degree, a Class “E” felony. The defendant was arraigned on March 26, 2019.

It is alleged that the defendant illegally obtained personal identifying information from numerous victims, which he then used to acquire approximately $133,000 in credit from various creditors. Most of the victims were juveniles between the ages of 11 and 15 years old who lived in Florida or other locations in the United States.

In addition to using victims’ social security numbers for his own benefit, Outling is accused of being the ringleader of an identity theft scheme. The defendant allegedly provided stolen personal identifying information to other individuals who then used the information to illegally obtain credit, resulting in fraudulent purchases totaling $420,000.

Outling is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, April 11 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

If convicted on all charges, he could face a maximum of 28 years in prison.

Seven defendants were arrested by New York State Police on Tuesday, March 26 or Wednesday, March 27 and have been arraigned for their alleged involvement. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of an eighth person whose identity will not be released until their arraignment.

The following individuals have been charged for allegedly participating in the ID theft scheme:

Robert A. Johnson, Jr., 33, of Buffalo has been arraigned before Judge LoTempio on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree, one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree.

The defendant is accused of using a 12-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $18,000 in credit. He is also accused of cashing a $12,000 counterfeit check.

Johnson is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, April 11 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

Michael Ramsey, 55, of Buffalo has been arraigned before Judge LoTempio on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

The defendant is accused of using an 11-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $5,700 in credit. He is also accused of obtaining more than $6,000 in credit from six different creditors.

Ramsey is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, April 11 at 9:30 a.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

Cynthia Lockwood, 53, of Williamsville has been arraigned before Amherst Town Court Judge Geoffrey Klein on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

The defendant is accused of using a 12-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $4,300 in credit. She is also accused of obtaining more than $21,000 in credit from 10 different creditors.

Robert A. Johnson, Sr., 54, of Buffalo has been arraigned before Judge Klein on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

The defendant is accused of using a 12-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $6,000 in credit. He is also accused of obtaining $18,000 in credit from seven different creditors.

Johnson is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, May 2 at 2 p.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

Evelyn T. Pratcher, 47, of Amherst has been arraigned before Judge Klein on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

The defendant is accused of using a 12-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $20,000 in credit. She is also accused of obtaining more than $94,000 in credit from seven different creditors.

Pratcher is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, May 2 at 2 p.m. She was released on his own recognizance.

Audrey R. Garnett, 58, of Buffalo has been arraigned before Judge Klein on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

The defendant is accused of using an 11-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $21,000 in credit. She is also accused of obtaining more than $21,000 from four different creditors.

Garnett is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, May 2 at 2 p.m. She was released on his own recognizance.

Andrew Bostic, 56, of Buffalo has been arraigned before Judge Klein on one count of Identity Theft in the First Degree.

The defendant is accused of using an 11-year-old victim’s personal identifying information to obtain approximately $1,000 in credit.

Bostic is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, May 2 at 2 p.m. He was released on his own recognizance. 

DA Flynn commends the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit Buffalo and the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration for their assistance in the investigation.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Jurusik of the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.