Man guilty of fraud, ID thefts

A former fugitive who bought a Huntington Beach home fraudulently, among other crimes, was convicted Tuesday of committing $2.8 million in fraud and stealing the identities of more than a dozen victims.

Gene Anthony Franklin Jr., 34, of Tustin, purchased a $685,000 local home — and signed up for its water and phone bills — in 2006 using a victim’s personal information, which he obtained during an “investment opportunity” discussion. When the victim saw his credit report, he contacted Franklin and was falsely told his name would be removed from the home.

The following year, Huntington Beach police went to Franklin’s home to arrest him on another warrant; he had a small child in the house, and refused to exit the house when called by police. Franklin’s ex-wife came over but was unsuccessful in asking him to let the child out of the home. Several hours later, the stand-off ended when a SWAT team entered the home and removed the child.

Franklin also attempted to purchase a $310,000 boat using another victim’s information; opened financial accounts online using other people’s information and pictures; was found to have several stolen identities in his repossessed car; and forged the transfer of ownership of several properties belonging to a man he shared a jail cell with, who was later convicted of murdering his own wife, in order to bail out of jail.

Franklin then fled to Mexico in fall 2007, and was apprehended there the following year, authorities said.

Franklin was found guilty by a jury of 46 felony counts including identity theft, false impersonation, grand theft and attempted grand theft, resisting arrest, child abuse, conspiracy, forgery, failure to appear, attempted extortion, and dissuading a witness, authorities said.

Franklin faces up to 73 years and four months in state prison. He will be sentenced June 19.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.