Former GEOFF TATE Guitarist Sentenced For ID Theft

February 6, 2008

KiroTV.com reports that a man who falsely claimed to be a member of the Seattle band QUEENSRŸCHEwas sentenced in Everett, Washington to more than six years in prison Tuesday (February 5).

Guitarist Scott C. Moughton was convicted of 10 identity theft and forgery-related felonies.

The judge also ordered Moughton to pay $13,000 in restitution.

In court Tuesday, a tearful Moughton blamed his actions on drugs and pleaded for reduced time and treatment.

Watch footage of Moughton and his family members speaking in court on Tuesday at KiroTV.com.

According to HeraldNet.com, Moughton (photos),43, also known as "Rock Star Scott," told investigators he was once famous, but since his split from the band he has been homeless, hungry and desperate, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Walter Sowa wrote in court documents in 2006 on an unrelated matter.

Band officials say Moughton played guitar on QUEENSRŸCHE lead singer Geoff Tate's solo album in 2002 (details on Tate's web site),but has never been a part of the band.

Police say Moughton used a stolen identification to buy a $71,000 Lexus in May 2007 from a dealership in Lynnwood.

Detectives believe Moughton was pre-approved for a credit line over the Internet using the victim's personal information.

The victim didn't know about the crime until he received payment plans in the mail about a month later. Everett police found the car a short time later.

Moughton was indicted on federal charges four years ago (photo of Moughton in court in 2004) in connection with a major identity theft ring. [See previous BLABBERMOUTH.NET stories: Story#1, Story#2.]

At that time, police found bags of stolen mail, passports, driver's licenses and equipment to make identification cards in Moughton's Bothell apartment. The manager there reported that Moughton said he was living off $80,000 in royalties from his music, court papers said.

The charges against Moughton were dropped after evidence was thrown out because of a problem with the search warrant, said Emily Langlie, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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