DIRECTOR OF SOUTHERN CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VICTIM OF IDENTITY FRAUD

Ex-Con Turned Employee Pleads Guilty to Crime

Atlanta- In an ironic twist of fate, a man hired by a group that seeks justice for prisoners is now going to jail for stealing from its leader. Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction by guilty plea today of 29-year old Shareef Cousin on charges of Identity and Credit Card Fraud.

Cousin, a Stone Mountain man, was arrested on June 13, 2008 for the crimes against Stephen Bright, Director of the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta. The agency represents inmates in a variety of legal challenges. Bright hired Cousin as a clerk less than two years ago in an effort to help him get his life on track. Cousin was convicted in 1996 for the murder of a Louisiana man and served time on death row before his conviction was overturned in 1998. In 2005, Cousin was paroled for an unrelated armed robbery in Louisiana.

According to investigators, while Cousins worked for Bright he used his bosses' social security number, birth date and name to get credit cards. He accumulated 42-thousand dollars in charges on miscellaneous bills and splurges like painting and adding audio equipment to his car. Cousin also forged Bright's name on credit card convenience checks.

Cousin was sentenced to 10 years to serve three for his crimes here. He also faces up to seven years in Louisiana if his parole is revoked.

Superior Court Judge Alford J. Dempsey, Jr. presided over the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brad Malkin, Chief of the Fulton County District Attorney's White Collar Crime Unit. Detective John Sutton of the Atlanta Police Department's Major Fraud Unit lead the investigation.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov