Identity Theft While Impaired | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    On March 31, 2013 at approximately 1:24 a.m., Deputy Jonathan Fowler with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division stopped a vehicle that he had observed on Highway 17 South in Washington. The vehicle had a headlight out and was being driven erratically. Fowler made contact with the driver and passenger and observed an open bottle of liquor in the passenger area.

    The driver provided her name and a date of birth. Deputy Fowler ran the name given through the NCDMV computerized records system and learned that the birth date given was incorrect. Fowler arrested the driver for Driving While License Revoked and Providing Fictitious Information to a LEO. During a search of the vehicle, Deputy Fowler located a second open container of liquor and drug paraphernalia. The driver was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both occupants were charged with Possession of an Open Container.

    On April 12, 2013, Deputy Fowler was contacted by a subject that reported the driver in this case had used the subject’s identity fraudulently during the traffic stop. The Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation and identified the driver as Patrice Gorham of Washington. As a result of the investigation, Deputy Fowler applied for and obtained warrants charging Patrice Donnette Gorham, age 26, of East 15th Street in Washington with Identity Theft, Fictitious Information to an Officer, Possession of Drug.

    Paraphernalia, Possession of an Open Container in the Passenger Area, and DWLR. A warrant was also obtained on the passenger in the vehicle for Resisting a Public Officer for participating in the fraudulent use of the victim’s name. Gorham turned herself in on April 14th and was held in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $1,500.00 secured bond set by Magistrate David Curtis. All charges in the victim’s name related to the traffic stop on March 31st have been dismissed.


   Major Kenneth Watson
     Beaufort County Sheriff's Office