He was trying to avoid a background check.
A 64-year-old man from Florida, William Dennis Milstead, was arrested after attempting to lease a property by pretending to be an undercover officer. Milstead allegedly sought to bypass a standard background check and used fraudulent claims to deceive a real estate agency. He now faces multiple charges, including impersonating a police officer, providing false information to obtain property, and using a communication device to commit a crime, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
Milstead’s deception began when he submitted a letter to the real estate agency, claiming he was an undercover FDLE agent working off the grid. The letter, which was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, stated that Milstead should be exempt from the background check due to his covert status. The letter also falsely stated that Milstead had been with the FDLE since 2006 and was approaching his 20th year with the department.
The agency grew suspicious when it discovered discrepancies in the letter and alerted the FDLE. A subsequent investigation revealed that Milstead had a criminal history, including 13 felony arrests, and had previously been charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer in 2002 and 2016. The FDLE records showed no evidence of Milstead ever working with the department.
Milstead’s fraudulent attempt was uncovered when the inconsistencies in his letter were flagged, leading to his arrest on November 13. He was booked into St. Lucie County Jail, where he remained until posting an $11,000 bond on November 15.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough background checks and the potential consequences of attempting to deceive others for personal gain. Milstead’s arrest adds to a history of previous charges related to impersonating law enforcement officers, underlining the risks associated with fraudulent actions.
