Home / Crime and Justice / Man Lived 30 Years as Coworker, Sentence Upheld
Man Lived 30 Years as Coworker, Sentence Upheld
25 Apr
Summary
- Matthew Keirans stole William Woods' identity for over 30 years.
- Keirans used stolen identity to marry, work, and raise a child.
- Woods was wrongfully imprisoned and medicated due to the theft.
A federal appeals court has upheld the 12-year prison sentence for Matthew David Keirans, who perpetuated an identity theft scheme for over 30 years. Keirans stole the identity of his coworker, William Woods, in 1988, effectively erasing his own digital footprint. For three decades, Keirans lived under Woods' name, building a life that included marriage, raising a child, and securing employment at the University of Iowa Hospital.
Keirans' elaborate deception led to severe consequences for the real William Woods. When Woods attempted to reclaim his identity in 2019, Keirans falsely accused him, resulting in Woods' arrest and a 428-day imprisonment, followed by 147 days in a state mental hospital. Woods was even forced to use the name Matthew Keirans.
After his release, Woods pursued the truth. A detective's investigation, including DNA testing, confirmed Woods' identity. Confronted with this evidence in July 2023, Keirans confessed to his long-standing fraud. The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed Keirans' sentence, noting the extensive nature of his deception.
