A Hawaii couple has been found guilty of conspiracy, passport fraud, and identity theft after living for decades under the names of deceased babies. The jury reached a guilty verdict after deliberating for about two hours, according to court records.
The couple, referred to as Bobby Fort and Julie Montague by the judge, argued in court that their actions did not harm anyone. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Muehleck stated that the real Bobby Fort had been deceased for over 50 years, having only lived for three months due to a severe cough.
During the trial, Tonda Montague Ferguson testified that her mother gave birth to her sister, Julie Montague, in 1968, but the infant had birth defects and died approximately three weeks later. The two babies were buried in separate Texas cemeteries, 15 miles apart.
Prosecutors revealed that the couple’s true identities are Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison. They had attended the same Texas high school, and a classmate who had kept in touch with them mentioned that they stayed with him for a while and expressed their intention to change their identities due to substantial debt.
The husband even used his fake identity, which made him 12 years younger, to join the Coast Guard, according to the prosecutor.
The couple faces a maximum prison term of 10 years for making false statements in passport applications and usage. Additionally, they could be sentenced to up to five years for conspiracy charges and mandatory consecutive terms of two years for aggravated identity theft. The sentencing is scheduled for March.
The case garnered attention when the couple was arrested last year, as prosecutors initially suggested it involved more than just identity theft. They presented Polaroid photographs of the couple wearing what appeared to be authentic KGB uniforms. However, the couple’s lawyers claimed they had only worn the jackets once for fun, and prosecutors later backed away from any Russian spy intrigue.
