Associated Press
A Florida man is accused of impersonating a U.S. senator to avoid paying off his home loan.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Tampa reports that a grand jury indicted 67-year-old Sidney Hines this week on five counts of impersonating a federal officer or employee. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Court papers say Hines secured a HomeSaver Advance loan of $5,864 for his New Port Richey home in October 2008. Hines reportedly failed to make the payments.
Officials say Hines called a collection agency five times between March 2013 and December 2014. He claimed to be a U.S. senator from Illinois identified in the indictment as “R.D.” and said Hines’ HSA loan had been paid in full.
