A federal appeals court in the United States has upheld a 12-year prison sentence for Matthew David Keirans, who was convicted of stealing a co-worker’s identity and lived under it for more than 30 years. The ruling came after Keirans challenged his 144-month sentence and the terms of his supervised release, saying they were unreasonable.
According to a report from CBS NewsOn April 23, an appeals court dismissed his claims and upheld the original sentence handed down for what was described as a decades-long fraud.
Identity theft began in the late 1980s
The case dates back to the late 1980s, when Keirans and William Woods worked together at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Woods said that in 1988, Keirans stole his wallet and used personal information from his Social Security card to assume his identity.
Read also | Trump cancels visit of US envoys to Pakistan after Iranian FM Araghchi leaves
After that, Keirans effectively disappeared from official records under his real name. In 1990, he began living publicly as William Woods – a false identity he maintained for over three decades.
During this period he built a life under a stolen identity. He married, raised a child, and worked at the University of Iowa Hospital. Authorities said he also used Woods’ identity to access financial loans and secure loans.
Victim arrested, institutionalized after trying to regain identity
The case took a dramatic turn in 2019 when William Woods tried to reclaim his identity. Keirans reportedly convinced police that Woods was an impersonator.
Read also | ‘Flirted too hard’: American woman shows life after marriage in video from Pakistani village
As a result, Woods was arrested and spent 428 days in jail. He was also imprisoned for 147 days in a state psychiatric hospital where he was forcibly treated. Court records indicate he was instructed to use the name “Matthew Keirans,” which authorities believed to be his real identity at the time.
DNA evidence helped reveal the truth
After his release, Woods continued to try to prove his identity. The breakthrough came when a detective tracked down the biological father listed on Woods’ birth certificate and conducted a DNA test that confirmed Woods’ identity.
In July 2023, investigators confronted Keirans with the evidence. At that point, he admitted that he had been using Woods’ identity for decades, creating false documents and lying to law enforcement.
The Court of Appeal rejects the challenge
A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found no abuse of discretion in the original ruling. The court noted that Keirans hid his true identity for more than 30 years, including from his own family, and gave his child the surname of his victim.
Read also | US war in Iran LIVE: Trump cancels Witkoff, Kushner trip to Pakistan for talks
The court also upheld the conditions of supervised release, rejecting Keirans’ argument that they were excessive.
The case highlights the risks of identity theft
While identity theft cases are not uncommon, the duration and ramifications of this case have drawn attention. The fact that impersonation has gone undetected for decades—resulting in the wrongful incarceration and institutionalization of the victim—has raised concerns about verification systems and law enforcement processes.
The case underscores how long-standing identity fraud can affect not only financial records but also legal identity, with serious consequences for victims.
