Wisconsin man stole coworker's identity for 30 years, sent victim to mental hospital before DNA exonerated him: court ru [View all]

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/matthew-keirans-coworker-identity-theft-sentence-william-woods-wisconsin/

A federal appeals court has upheld a 12-year prison sentence for a Wisconsin man who stole another person's identity for decades and manipulated the criminal justice system to have his victim jailed and forcibly medicated.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit rejected Matthew David Keirans' challenge to his sentence, according to a ruling filed Thursday. Keirans, 59, argued the 144-month prison term was unreasonable and that special conditions of supervised release were improper.

Keirans pleaded guilty in April 2025 to aggravated identity theft and making false statements.

The case centers on the accusation that Keirans' theft of William Woods' identity began in the late 1980s, when the two men worked together at a hot dog cart in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Woods said Keirans stole his wallet in 1988, but returned it after Woods threatened to punch him. But while Keirans had possession of Woods' wallet, he used the information on Woods' social security card to apply for a driver's license as William Woods.

Court records show Keirans used Woods' identity to build a new life — marrying, having a child, opening bank accounts, obtaining credit, and working at the University of Iowa Hospital, where he earned more than $100,000 a year as an IT administrator.


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https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livemint.com/news/us-news/us-man-stole-colleague-s-identity-for-30-years-victim-imprisoned-and-forced-into-mental-hospital/amp-11777133757388.html

Victim Arrested, Institutionalised After Attempt To Reclaim Identity

The case took a dramatic turn in 2019 when William Woods attempted to reclaim his identity. According to reports, Keirans convinced law enforcement that Woods was the impersonator.

As a result, Woods was arrested and spent 428 days in jail. He was also confined to a state mental hospital for 147 days, where he was forcibly medicated. Court records indicate that he was instructed to use the name “Matthew Keirans,” which authorities at the time believed to be his real identity.

DNA Evidence Helped Reveal Truth
After his release, Woods continued efforts to prove his identity. The breakthrough came when a detective tracked down the biological father listed on Woods’ birth certificate and conducted a DNA test, confirming Woods’ identity.

In July 2023, investigators confronted Keirans with the evidence. At that point, he admitted to using Woods’ identity for decades, creating false documents, and misleading law enforcement authorities.