Man charged with stealing identity of drug-testing clients

(MARKHAM) A south suburban man stole the identities of people who used his drug-testing business and used the information in a scheme to set up false cable TV accounts, prosecutors allege.

Roy Burks / photo from the Cook County Sheriff’s office

Roy Burks, 37, of Richton Park, is facing one count of identity theft, one count of theft by deception, and three counts of wire fraud, all felonies, according to the Illinois Attorney General’s office.

Burks allegedly stole information from customers of a drug screening business he owned, “Plus and Minus,” then used their names, birth dates and Social Security numbers to set up Comcast accounts.

He then charged $100 for people who were having trouble getting Comcast cable service, including those whose service was shut off for lack of payment or who had bad credit, according to prosecutors.

Burks used 230 stolen identities from his drug-screening company’s customers to open 305 bogus Comcast accounts, the statement said.

The scheme was discovered when identity theft victims started receiving calls from Comcast about outstanding bills, according to the statement.

Burks was ordered held on a $150,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court June 11 in Markham.