Ex-hospital guard sentenced on ID theft

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - identitymer Rhode Island Hospital security guard who stole the identities of patients was sentenced Friday morning to 39 months in prison.

Michael Bermudez pleaded guilty to charges of credit card fraud and indentity theft last August.

He admitted to using hissecurityy guard position to obtain identity information on patients, including emergency room patients. He then took that information to a RadioShack store in Cranston, where he opened Sprint accounts and RadioShack charge accounts.

Bermudez also admitted that, after obtaining cell phones, he sold them as pre-paid phones for about $150 each.

Bermudez's 39-month sentence includes a mandatory, consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Bermudez must also pay a total of $18,000 restitution to RadioShack, Sprint, and AT&T.

Three former RadioShack clerks – Hector Alvarez, James Hernandez and Esteban Tiguila, have admitted their roles in the fraud scheme.

Alvarez and Hernandez have been sentenced to three years probation and must pay restitution. Alvarez was also sentenced to six months home confinement.

Tiguila is free on bond awaiting sentencing.

A jury found another former clerk, Robert Valerio, guilty of a dozen charges in connection with the scheme. He is free on bond pending sentencing.