Deputy admits he used his job to steal identities

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Frantz Felisma admitted Thursday that he used his job — and his law enforcement computer — to steal people’s identities.

Felisma, 43, of Boynton Beach, pleaded guilty to federal identity theft and fraud charges and agreed he owes $135,900 in restitution to the victims. The maximum penalty for the offenses is 12 years in federal prison.

He admitted he agreed to steal the identities for another man, who he knew was using the information to open fraudulent credit card and checking accounts. He said he used his access to a law enforcement database of drivers to steal personal information.

An acquaintance of Felisma’s, who also pleaded guilty to federal charges, gave him cash to steal dozens of identities between January 2013 and September 2014, according to court records. That man said he targeted people who drove “high-end cars” and wrote down their license plate numbers, which he gave to Felisma.

Felisma would then look up the people’s personal information, write it on the piece of paper and return it to the other man. Investigators said they found more than 50 pieces of paper that included both men’s handwriting during searches of their homes.

Felisma admitted he always drove his marked patrol car to the meetings “and would sometimes run the tags on a computer inside” the vehicle while the other man waited. Prosecutors said the men exchanged more than 200 text messages arranging meetings.

Felisma, who has been jailed without bond since being arrested last year, is scheduled for sentencing June 7 in federal court in West Palm Beach.

Felisma, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for seven years, has been on unpaid leave since Jan. 6, according to the agency. After his Dec. 21 arrest, he was placed on paid leave.

The community volunteer and athletics coach was named Deputy of the Year for the Delray Beach region of the Sheriff’s Office just days before he was arrested.

Felisma’s attorney, Jason Kreiss, declined to comment after the court hearing.