Tennessee Man Charged with Using Dead Baseball Players' Names to Collect Payouts

A Tennessee man named George Herman Ruth, who shares the same name as the legendary New York Yankees baseball player "Babe" Ruth, has been charged with using the names of hundreds of dead or retired baseball players to make phony claims for payouts. According to the indictment issued by a US District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee, Ruth faces 91 counts, including mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. The scheme, which allegedly involved more than a dozen post office boxes in several Tennessee cities, resulted in over $550,000 in payouts. The indictment states that Ruth submitted hundreds of fraudulent claim forms, using the names of famous baseball players to obtain settlements in lawsuit cases.

Key Takeaways:

• George Herman Ruth, a 69-year-old from Morristown, Tennessee, faces 91 counts in an indictment related to using dead or retired baseball players' names to collect payouts.
• The scheme allegedly resulted in over $550,000 in payouts through lawsuit settlements.
• Ruth opened more than a dozen post office boxes in several Tennessee cities to facilitate the scheme.
• He was charged with mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, money laundering, and making false statements to his probation officer.
• The indictment also charges Ruth with possessing firearms after having previously been convicted of felonies.
• The investigation is ongoing, and it is unclear if the celebrity of George Herman Ruth's name played a role in the scheme.
• The case highlights the importance of verifying the identity of individuals claiming to be well-known celebrities or public figures.

Statistics:

• 91 counts in the indictment against George Herman Ruth
• Over $550,000 in payouts resulting from the scheme
• More than a dozen post office boxes opened by Ruth in several Tennessee cities

Sources:

• Associated Press, no date
• CSC, no date