Judge gives stiff penalty
in identity theft case

A man who assumed the identity of a dead California resident in a complex scheme to avoid paying nearly $200,000 in child support and collect about $70,000 in federal disability payments was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra "lowered the boom" yesterday on Robert E.M. Sohnrey, also known as Edward B. Cook, by sentencing him much higher than the advisory sentencing guideline range of 37 to 46 months, said assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Hino.

Ezra also prohibited Sohnrey from assuming Cook's identity upon release from prison. Sohnrey had told federal investigators that once this matter is over, he intends to legally change his name to Edward Cook, Hino said.

Sohnrey, 50, pleaded guilty in December 2003 to Social Security fraud, identification theft, passport fraud and failure to pay child support.

He took on Cook's identity, obtaining various identification documents using the dead San Francisco man's name, paid Cook's debts and began a new life in Hawaii, obtaining new ID cards and opening accounts in Cook's name. He even divorced his second wife, remarried her using his alias and named a son after Cook's brother.

Although Sohnrey cooperated with prosecutors and admitted his guilt, Hino asked that Sohnrey be sentenced toward the higher end of the guideline range because of the long-standing sophisticated scheme that Sohnrey had engaged in for nine years beginning in 1994.

Ezra said Sohnrey's extensive deception warranted a longer sentence in federal prison.

Former assistant federal public defender William Domingo said Sohnrey's conduct, while bizarre, was that of a desperate man who was running away from a life so horrible that he tried unsuccessfully three times to kill himself.

Sohnrey had lost his government job of 20 years because of a reduction in force. His marriage broke up after he learned his wife had been unfaithful and she filed for divorce. Moreover, he lost contact with his two children and was later told they had died.

Sohnrey's state of mind after the third suicide attempt was, "If I can't take my life, I will change my life," said Domingo. "He just wanted to put everything behind him."

Sohnrey, who broke down several times during his sentencing, apologized to the court. He said he became depressed as he fought a losing battle to keep up with bills and child support payments.

Ezra ordered that Sohnrey pay $237,407 in back child support payments and repay the Social Security Administration $70,316.