Skip to main content

Authorities: 4-decade fugitive used dead boys’ IDs

By WTOP Staff

RYAN J. FOLEY
Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Convicted armed robber Ronald Dwaine Carnes eluded authorities for nearly 41 years after escaping from a North Carolina prison. But with the help of facial recognition technology, investigators say he’s been caught living in northeastern Iowa under the identities of two 5-year-old boys who died in the 1940s.

Carnes, 69, made an initial appearance Thursday in federal court in Iowa on charges of misusing Social Security numbers, aggravated identity theft and being a felon and fugitive in possession of a firearm. Investigators say Carnes spent decades underground after escaping from a now-closed prison in Huntersville, North Carolina, in August 1973.

“It’s kind of odd to have somebody be able to survive that many years without being detected,” said Paul Steier, director of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s bureau of investigation, which helped crack the case. “He had basically started a new life.”

Carnes apparently used the identities of Louie Vance and William Henry Cox for years as he traveled from Chicago to Georgia to Washington state to Iowa, according to a complaint filed Monday. He convinced the Social Security Administration to grant him disability and retirement benefits under both names for years. But after moving into a modest brick home in Waterloo, Iowa, last year, investigators say a mistake and new technology ended his long run from justice.

Facial recognition software, used by the Iowa DOT since 2008, flagged Carnes’ photo after he applied for a license in Vance’s name in March. The smiling face appeared to be the same man — black, 5 feet 11 inches tall and trim, with a mustache and the same large mole or birthmark on his forehead — who had obtained an Iowa license last year under Cox’s name.

Investigators soon determined the individual was using the Cox and Vance identities to receive Social Security benefits. Disability payments meant for Cox started in 2003, while retirement benefits intended for Vance began in 2009. They were being deposited into a Boeing Employees Credit Union Account opened when Carnes lived in Washington. But authorities didn’t yet know who was behind the apparent scheme.

Investigators served a search warrant at Carnes’ Waterloo home in April, where they found birth certificates for Vance and Cox and other documents suggesting he was really Carnes, according to court documents. By his bed they found ammunition and a .380-caliber pistol, the same model found near Carnes’ vehicle when he and an accomplice were arrested in the 1970 armed robbery of a female convenience store clerk in Winston-Salem, documents show.

Carnes was arrested in April following the warrant, and a fingerprint match soon verified his true identity, investigators say.

Relatives of Cox and Vance, meanwhile, told investigators that both were 5-year-old boys when they died in accidents seven decades ago, according to an affidavit signed by agent Juston Jennings of the Social Security Administration. Cox, born in Denver, died in 1949. Vance, born in Ruleville, Mississippi, died the previous year.

Carnes was three years into a 20-year sentence when he escaped from Mecklenburg Correctional Center. The escape is so old that the North Carolina Department of Public Safety doesn’t have any details about what happened, and the prison has been closed 16 years, agency spokesman Keith Acree said.

The month after Carnes escaped, someone applied for a Social Security card in Chicago for Vance, according to Jennings’ affidavit. In 1979, the Social Security Administration assigned a Social Security number for Cox. Carnes had also obtained a Georgia driver’s license in 1999 under Cox’s name, the affidavit said.

Prosecutors in Black Hawk County, Iowa, dropped charges against Carnes on Thursday to allow federal prosecutors to take the lead. Carnes, who’s been jailed without bond since his arrest, agreed Thursday not to challenge his continued detention. A preliminary hearing was set for July 9.

North Carolina officials will only seek Carnes’ extradition for the escape after he completes any federal prison time that results from the case, Acree said.

The arrest surprised retired attorney Robert Sapp in North Carolina, who represented Carnes on the 1971 appeal of the robbery conviction but doesn’t remember details.

“Wow,” he said. “If he was doing what they said he did, I hope they lock him up. I shouldn’t say that about a former client, but I don’t remember him at all.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote