Philadelphia County Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing Deceased Classmate’s ID to Obtain PA License and Insurance; Attempted to Obtain Gun Permit

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a Philadelphia County man has pleaded guilty to felony charges related to his stealing a classmate’s identity and fraudulently using it to obtain a driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance, and to apply for a concealed carry firearms permit.

Anthony Percell, 56, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Philadelphia County Court to insurance fraud, theft by deception, identity theft, and forgery.

In accordance with a plea agreement, Percell will serve six to 23 months in prison, followed by seven years of probation. Percell also was prosecuted federally for using the deceased classmate’s name and identification information to obtain a passport and airport access.

The sentence ordered this week will be served concurrently with a federal prison sentence.

“This defendant brazenly stole the identity of a classmate who died decades ago, and used that information to apply for a concealed firearms permit and other privileges, potentially putting the public at risk,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I want to commend the work of our team and federal investigators and prosecutors who put a stop to this individual’s decades of deception.”

As part of the sentence, Percell is prohibited from using anyone else’s identity for any purpose, and must surrender materials and assets he obtained fraudulently. Using the identity of the classmate — who died in 1986 — Percell also filed a workers’ compensation claim. 

The state charges were prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Eric Schoenberg. The United States Attorney’s Office previously prosecuted Percell.

Visit Pennsylvania Attorney General to view Press Release.