ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — A Zanesville man who repeatedly used other people’s identities during encounters with law enforcement has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Ryan McKelvey, 42, was sentenced by Muskingum County Common Pleas Court Judge Kelly Cottrill after being convicted of two counts of tampering with records, four counts of identity fraud, two counts of forgery, aggravated possession of drugs and illegal use of drug paraphernalia.
McKelvey has a criminal history that includes convictions for drug possession, theft, illegal conveyance of weapons, multiple counts of falsification, illegal conveyance of drugs, burglary and disorderly conduct.
The case began during a traffic stop conducted by Zanesville Police Department officers.
After officers determined the driver did not have a valid driver’s license, they approached the vehicle and found McKelvey in the passenger seat.
Officers observed that McKelvey was breathing heavily, shaking and avoiding eye contact. When asked to identify himself, McKelvey provided officers with another person’s name and identifying information and claimed the identity as his own.
Officers received consent to search the vehicle and McKelvey. During the search, they found a bag containing pills in McKelvey’s front pants pocket.
During an interview, McKelvey told officers he was nervous because he had 15 oxycodone pills in his pocket. He also told officers he had used a pipe found in the vehicle to snort one of the pills.
Investigators later determined the identity McKelvey provided during the traffic stop did not belong to him.
McKelvey also used the false identifying information to sign four documents during the arrest process, according to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigators determined the incident was not the first time McKelvey had used another person’s identity during an arrest.
Detectives found that during a previous arrest, McKelvey had provided another individual’s identity and again signed four documents using false identifying information.
The investigation resulted in the convictions for identity fraud, tampering with records and forgery, along with the drug-related offenses.
Assistant Prosecutor Warren Edwards handled the case for the State of Ohio.
“Trying to use another person’s identity when caught committing a crime is simply another attempt by a criminal to avoid responsibility for their crime,” Edwards said. “This type of fraud on the system will not be tolerated and comes with severe additional consequences in Muskingum County.”
Judge Cottrill sentenced McKelvey to six years in prison.
