Woman Sentenced For Stealing Identity Of Minor In Her Care

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A former personal care attendant has been sentenced for stealing the identity of a minor in her care, the United States Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Charnell Alene Hudson, 40, was specifically sentenced to 42 months – 3-and-a-half-years – in prison on one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. She will also pay restitution to the victims.

In Hudson's plea agreement, she admitted that between June 2008 and September 2010, she stole the identity of a minor in her care.

In 2005, Hudson worked as a personal care attendant for the elderly and disable in the Twin Cities area. That year, she was hired to provide care for a minor at the minor's home. In 2006 the minor moved in with Hudson, who assumed responsibility for all aspects of the minor's care and had access to all the minor's personal identifying documents.

When the minor moved out the next year, Hudson kept all of the minor's personal information. She used it to obtain a Minnesota driver's license and a title for a vehicle.

Since Hudson had a criminal history that prevented her from opening a licensed daycare, she used the minor's identity to establish a business called "Lil Dumplin's Daycare," which allowed her to receive a $70,000 contract from Ramsey County for services to the community.

Then, on March 25, 2010, Hudson used the minor's identity to purchase a $153,000 home in St. Paul, using the minor's identity to send monthly payment checks of $916.12 to the seller of the house.

Hudson was indicted on July 23, 2012, and pleaded guilty on Nov. 19, 2012.