On October 27, 2017, it was announced that a Lake Stevens, Washington man had been charged with seven federal felonies for using fake credentials to commit crimes. 43-year-old Steven W. Fisher has been charged with one count of robbery, five counts of impersonation of a federal officer and one count of attempted robbery.
The criminal complaint suggests that Fisher gained access to a small money transmitting business in Seattle’s Central District on January 25, 2017. It is alleged that Fisher claimed to be an FBI agent investigating a suspicious transaction. He supposedly flashed a badge and showed the owner a search warrant signed by Frank Abagnale.
The warrant was actually purchased from the website Legalfakes.com. Eventually, Fisher allegedly pulled a gun on the owner and demanded that he open the safe. Fisher left with a substantial amount of cash and computer equipment, which contained surveillance footage. Fisher was identified as the suspect after a series of incidents in July and August 2017 at a different business in Rainer Valley.
In one incident, Fisher used the name Jack Ryan. Fisher attempted to speak with the manager outside to gain information about the company’s surveillance cameras. Instead, the manager called 911 and notified the authorities. A month later, Fisher showed up at the business again pretending to be an FBI agent. The manager hit the panic alarm and Seattle Police officers arrived moments later.
Fisher was questioned and taken into custody. A court authorized searches of the suspect’s car, storage locker and briefcase. Authorities discovered fake federal credentials, an airsoft pistol with silencer and paperwork linking him to the earlier robbery.
The investigation is ongoing. Further details can be found here. At this point in time, the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.