A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false use or forgery of a passport. Michael Scott Hillwig, 59, from Camden, New Jersey, entered his plea in Tallahassee, Florida.
The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Heekin stated: “It is of vital importance to raise awareness about the vulnerability of our personal identifying information online, which fraudsters relentlessly pursue as they seek to enrich themselves by exploiting their victims. As this defendant has learned, my office is just as relentless in our pursuit of criminals like him, and we aggressively prosecute such frauds to the fullest extent to achieve justice for the victims of these crimes.”
According to court documents, Hillwig obtained personal identification information from others in May 2023. The details included names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and passport card numbers. Using this information and fraudulent U.S. passport cards that displayed his photograph but contained victims’ details, Hillwig withdrew funds from several bank accounts.
During the scheme, Hillwig traveled to financial institutions across South Carolina and Florida—including Bonifay, Niceville, and Winter Garden—where he used a victim’s social security number along with a fake passport card to withdraw money from their accounts.
Hillwig could face up to thirty years in prison for bank fraud charges. For false use or forgery of a passport he faces up to ten years in prison; for aggravated identity theft there is a mandatory two-year sentence consecutive to any other prison term.
The investigation involved collaboration between the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and sheriff’s offices in Okaloosa County and Holmes County. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is set for April 2, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Judge Mark E. Walker.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida handles federal prosecutions under direction from the Attorney General across its jurisdiction. Additional information about its activities can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
