INDIVIDUAL CHARGED WITH COURT FORGERIES

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the filing of criminal charges against a 41 year old individual who goes by both the name Dee Deirdre Farmer and Douglas Farmer, arising out of his/her attempt to change a death certificate to reflect that she/he, Farmer, had died. Specifically, Farmer, of the 3800 block of Elmley Avenue in Baltimore, is charged with forging a Baltimore City Circuit Court Order, presenting false information for entry on a death certificate for the purpose of committing identity fraud, making a false entry in a public record by submitting a forged affidavit, and obstruction of justice.

There is no maximum penalty for the forgery and uttering counts; false entry in a public record is punishable by up to three years in jail and a $1,000 fine, while obstruction of justice carries a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. No arraignment date has been set in Baltimore City Circuit Court.

The case was referred to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Attorney General’s Office by the State Division of Vital Records, and was investigated with the assistance of the Maryland State Police.