Officials: Prisoner info used to get $580K in US student aid
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Prosecutors say an Arizona man has been found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the government after using state prison inmates' information to get more than $580,000 in federal student aid money.
Colorado United States Attorney Bob Troyer said Thursday that a jury convicted Tramell Thomas last month.
Troyer's statement says Tramell and others looked up details about inmates in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois and Ohio.
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Prosecutors say another conspirator worked at a bank and found the inmates' Social Security numbers. The group then filed student aid requests totaling $1.3 million.
The Department of Education paid out about $582,000, including $419,000 in debit cards intended for living expenses.
The rest of the money went to community colleges listed on the aid applications.
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Three other people have pleaded guilty to related charges.