LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a former California state assemblyman will plead guilty to making fake identity theft claims to avoid paying his debts.
U.S. attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek says 47-year-old Carl Edward Washington will enter his plea Monday, and has agreed to plead guilty to three counts of bank fraud.
Farmers and Merchants Bank, First City Credit Union and LA Financial Credit Union lost nearly $200,000 as a result of the scheme prosecutors say ran through the summer of 2011.
While working in Los Angeles County's probation office, Washington allegedly applied for credit cards and loans, spent without care, and then falsely reported he'd been a victim of identity theft.
The Democrat represented the 52nd district in South Los Angeles from 1996 to 2002.
Washington's lawyer John Hanusz declined comment Thursday.
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