Man Poses As Army Sgt. During Fraud Scheme

The Plum Police Department has filed charges against a man who is accused of posing as a U.S. Army Sergeant during a fraud scheme earlier this month.

Miles Shoumake, 43, of an unknown address, has been charged with identity theft, receiving stolen property and two counts of theft. According to police, Shoumake—representing himself as an Army sergeant—contacted a retired military colonel  from Plum who is a "service officer" for military in need of assistance. 

Shoumake told the service officer that he was in town visiting his father's grave for the Fourth of July holiday and needed money for a bus ticket to Fort Bragg and some food—he claimed he had just returned from Afghanistan and had not received pay because of the holiday.

The service officer then met Shoumake at his motel in Crafton and gave him $160 to help the veteran in need, according to the police report filed by Plum police. 

A few days later, Pittsburgh police filed numerous unrelated charges against Shoumake, who has an "extensive criminal background." It was determined that he had been posing as an Army sergeant because he possessed the sergeant's identification, which had been reported stolen in Arkansas in June.

Shoumake currently is being held at the Allegheny County Jail. His preliminary hearing before Plum District Justice Linda Zucco has been scheduled for July 24.