Burnsville Man Charged with Stealing Disabled Child's Identity

A Burnsville man has been charged with stealing a disabled child’s Social Security number and depriving the child of more than $12,000 in benefits.

Julio Morales, 28, faces five felony counts of identity theft, each of which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim’s mother contacted police in early November and said her son’s Social Security number was being used by an employee of Napa Auto Parts in West St. Paul.

The boy’s mother discovered the theft when she applied for disability benefits on his behalf and was told that he wasn’t eligible because Morales – using her son’s Social Security number – was earning income from the West St. Paul store.

The mother told police that her son has not worked and is incapable of working.

Police checked Morales’ records and found that he had been using the child’s Social Security number since 2009. West St. Paul police discovered that Morales had been working for the store since 2005.

On Nov. 10, police went to the store and told Morales about the allegations. Morales provided the stolen Social Security number to officers; when he was questioned about where he was born, he said he didn’t know. When police asked where and when he had obtained the Social Security number, he said he wanted to speak to a lawyer.

Morales was arrested and charged with identity theft.

Records show that the victim was denied $12,031 in Social Security benefits to which he was entitled because of Morales’ use of his Social Security number from May 1, 2009, through Nov. 1, 2011.