A Logan County man recently confessed to stealing his neighbor’s identity in order to open an account with Appalachian Power, so that he could mine cryptocurrency.

 

Michael Pridemore, the man whose identity was stolen, came to the Logan County Sheriff’s Office to report he had received an electric bill for over $3,000. He informed police that the power company claimed the additional amount was for a transfer balance from an address just two-and-a-half miles away.

 

A deputy is said to have gone to investigate the claims, and he discovered the address for the second account did not exist. He managed to find out from Appalachian Power that the bill for the account was being sent to another nearby address, where Adkins was staying.

 

When questioned by the officer, Adkins admitted to stealing Pridemore’s identity in order to open the account. In furtherance of that statement, he also informed the officer he used the account to power his computer so that he could mine Bitcoin.

 

Pridemore is said to have told police that Adkins had fixed his computer at one point, so that may be how he gained his personal information.

 

Adkins was arrested and charged with identity theft and obtaining goods and services under false pretenses.