Two parents are accused of impersonating their own children to open accounts via New York State Electricity and Gas, fraudulently accumulating nearly $ 10,000 in electrical services.

Once the fake accounts lapsed, they left the children with badly damaged credit histories. New York State Police said one of the children discovered the scam while applying for a student loan.

Thomas Cash, 44, and Alisha Cash, 39, were arrested by soldiers in Steuben County after an investigation into the fraud scheme for approximately five years. It would have started in March 2013 and continued in August 2018.

Investigators said Thomas Cash used the identities of his biological children to open utility accounts at NYSEG in order to obtain electrical services he was not entitled to receive. Then he allegedly impersonated his children to open various credit card accounts and installment loans with online vendors.

This alleged fraud helped Thomas Cash illegally purchase hundreds of dollars in merchandise, authorities said.

Alisha Cash is accused of impersonating her husband’s daughter to open another NYSEG account.

“Thomas Cash and Alisha Cash both allegedly tried to cover up their actions by attempting to pay off the various fraudulent debts using their personal bank accounts and directing mail to their personal residence where the children were not residing,” police investigated. New York State. Curt Eaton said Thursday in a press release.

Later, the fake accounts expired.

Once one of the children discovered the alleged scheme, he was reported to law enforcement.

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Thomas Cash (aka Thomas Galligan) and Alisha Cash (aka Alisha Dibble / Alisha Ratliff) were previously residents of West Waneta Lake Road in Hammondsport, Steuben County.

Arrest warrants were issued for their arrests and they were taken into custody in Madison County, Alabama, during a traffic stop coordinated by sheriff’s deputies. Both lived in Hazel Green, Alabama at the time.

Thomas and Alisha Cash have been charged with the crimes of first degree identity theft, first degree fraud and falsifying first degree business records. They also face charges of the misdemeanor of second-degree identity theft and second-degree criminal identity theft.

Additional charges are pending, soldiers said Thursday.

Both defendants are being held in Steuben County Jail pending further legal action.

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