ID thief lived on Big Island
off dead felon’s name

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

Darryl Tenette used the Social Security number of a dead Oregon man to obtain welfare benefits on the Big Island.

When he reapplied in Honolulu, Tenette came under suspicion because the man whose name he had been using was a felon, and state authorities were looking for felons who had fled to disqualify them from collecting Hawaii welfare benefits.

Tenette, 45, whose address is unknown, pleaded no contest yesterday in Circuit Court to two counts of second-degree theft and second-degree identity theft for fraudulently obtaining public assistance by posing as someone else.

He is one of 225 individuals identified by the state last fall as wanted or suspected felons who were receiving public assistance in the state. Their benefits were terminated, saving the state $900,000 a year.

Convicted felons are not eligible if they have absconded, fled or have outstanding arrest warrants in connection with felony offenses.

Tenette was caught last fall because he happened to be using the identity of Steven Levrets, a convicted felon wanted for violating parole in Oregon, said Deputy Attorney General Rick Damerville.

Levrets apparently stopped reporting to his parole officer in 1999, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Damerville discovered the reason why Levrets stopped is because he died that same year, unbeknownst to Oregon authorities.

Tenette had previously applied for public assistance on the Big Island under the name Levrets and was reapplying for benefits in Honolulu last December when he was arrested.

Investigators learned he had been fraudulently receiving benefits under Levrets' name between February 2000 and October 2002 by not disclosing that he was receiving Social Security benefits, medical and food stamp benefits from the state of California. Because of his deception, Tenette was able to obtain more than $100,000 in public assistance in Hawaii using his own and Levrets' names, Damerville said.

Authorities do not know how Tenette obtained Levrets' Social Security card, but it appeared the signature on the card had been "washed" off and he signed Levrets' name in his own hand, he said.

Tenette's public defender could not be reached for comment.

In the past, anyone applying for public assistance who got caught lying about their identity or circumstances was disqualified from receiving benefits. Under the identity theft law that went into effect June 2000, these individuals face criminal prosecution, Damerville said.

Tenette faces a maximum of five years' imprisonment on the theft offenses and 10 years for identity theft when sentenced June 24.