Kentucky Man Sentenced for Faking Death

Jesse Kipf, a 39-year-old man from Kentucky, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for hacking into the Hawaii death registry system to falsely declare himself dead and evade over $195,000 in child support obligations. His scheme involved using the credentials of a doctor to access the system and create a fake death certificate, which resulted in his registration as deceased in multiple databases. Additionally, Kipf attempted to sell access to stolen credentials on the dark web. He pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated identity theft and computer fraud after being arrested in November 2023. U.S. Attorney Carlton Shier described Kipf's actions as a 'cynical and destructive effort' to avoid financial responsibilities. This case highlights the severe consequences of cybercrime and the importance of online security.