Officials nab fugitive felon posing as a federal agent

A fugitive felon posing as a Homeland Security Department agent was arrested last week in Florida, the DHS inspector general announced.

The fugitive, Thomas W. Connors, was wanted on several felony probation violations, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, felony assault and several felony fraud charges. Homeland Security auditors worked with the U.S. Marshals Service and the Orange County, Fla., sheriff’s office to conduct the investigation that led to Connors’ arrest in Winter Park, Fla., on Sept. 26.

The country sheriff’s office tipped off the IG that Connors had contacted the office to report criminal activity at his girlfriend’s apartment complex, identifying himself as “DHS agent Thomas Morgan.” Connors was allegedly trying to gather law enforcement information about the apartments.

During their probe, which began in August, investigators found that Connors also unlocked cellular phones for a local communications company and posed as an FBI agent to threaten local competing cellular phone companies with a shutdown. In addition, he outfitted his car with emergency lights, the IG said.

The IG’s field office in Orlando, Fla., is working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida to determine whether to press additional charges against Connors.