**Tennessee Man Charged in Identity Theft Scheme Using Baseball Legends’ Names**
A Tennessee resident, sharing the name of baseball icon Babe Ruth, has been federally charged in a significant identity theft case. George Herman Ruth, 69, from Morristown, faces 91 counts following an indictment issued by the U.S. District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee, on August 12. Prosecutors allege that Ruth exploited the identities of numerous deceased or former professional baseball players to file fraudulent claims for payouts in various class action settlements.
The charges against Ruth include mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, money laundering, making false statements to his probation officer, and illegal possession of firearms due to prior felony convictions. According to the indictment, Ruth attempted to obtain over $550,000 through this elaborate scheme, which involved claims related to issues such as contact lens pricing and racial discrimination against a staffing agency.
Ruth reportedly opened more than a dozen P.O. boxes across several Tennessee cities, both for himself and for fictitious companies. He submitted hundreds of fraudulent claim forms to class action administrators nationwide, using the names of old baseball players or variations of his own name, along with the Social Security numbers of unsuspecting victims. The specific names of the players he impersonated were not disclosed in the indictment, and a public defender representing him has not commented on the charges.
This is not Ruth’s first encounter with the law regarding identity theft. He previously pleaded guilty in an Indiana federal court to a Social Security fraud scheme and was sentenced to prison in 2020. He was released on probation in October 2023, which is set to last until July 2025.
As this case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing issues of identity theft and fraud, particularly in the realm of class action settlements.
**FAQ**
**What charges is George Herman Ruth facing?**
George Herman Ruth is charged with mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, money laundering, making false statements to his probation officer, and illegal possession of firearms.
