KiroTV.com reports that a man who falsely claimed to be a member of the Seattle band
QUEENSRŸCHEwas sentenced in Everett, Washington to more than six years in prison Tuesday (February 5).
Guitarist
Scott C. Moughton was convicted of 10 identity theft and forgery-related felonies.
The judge also ordered
Moughton to pay $13,000 in restitution.
In court Tuesday, a tearful
Moughton blamed his actions on drugs and pleaded for reduced time and treatment.
Watch footage of
Moughton and his family members speaking in court on Tuesday at
KiroTV.com.
According to
HeraldNet.com,
Moughton (
photos), 43, also known as "
Rock Star Scott," told investigators he was once famous, but since his split from the band he has been homeless, hungry and desperate, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor
Walter Sowa wrote in court documents in 2006 on an unrelated matter.
Band officials say
Moughton played guitar on
QUEENSRŸCHE lead singer
Geoff Tate's solo album in 2002 (
details on
Tate's web site), but has never been a part of the band.
Police say
Moughton used a stolen identification to buy a $71,000 Lexus in May 2007 from a dealership in Lynnwood.
Detectives believe
Moughton was pre-approved for a credit line over the Internet using the victim's personal information.
The victim didn't know about the crime until he received payment plans in the mail about a month later. Everett police found the car a short time later.
Moughton was indicted on federal charges four years ago (
photo of
Moughton in court in 2004) in connection with a major identity theft ring. [See previous
BLABBERMOUTH.NET stories:
Story#1,
Story#2.]
At that time, police found bags of stolen mail, passports, driver's licenses and equipment to make identification cards in
Moughton's Bothell apartment. The manager there reported that
Moughton said he was living off $80,000 in royalties from his music, court papers said.
The charges against
Moughton were dropped after evidence was thrown out because of a problem with the search warrant, said
Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
