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Man Sentenced for Attempted Use of Fake ID to Enter Library

Federal Judge Ricardo Urbina sentenced an Arkansas man to an 11-month jail term Tuesday for impersonating a government employee when he attempted to gain access to the Library of Congress earlier this year using false identification.

Phillip Douglas, who is known by at least four aliases including Reginald David Johnson, pleaded guilty in April to one count of “false personation” of an officer or employee of the United States and one count of making false and fictitious statements.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on Feb. 3, Douglas entered a restricted area of the Library of Congress’ James Madison Building through the Cannon House Office Building tunnel.

At the request of an LOC police officer, Douglas produced a Congressional identification card; however, the card apparently did not belong to Douglas. The card, which featured a female employee, had been reported lost in November 2003.

Despite the discrepancy, Douglas, who identified himself as Raymond Roger Jones although he wore a name tag reading “Reginald,” insisted he was a Congressional employee and stated the identification card belonged to an acquaintance.

“He then pretended to use a cell phone and maintained that the person on the other end of the phone said he left his identification on his desk in the Congressional office where he was employed,” according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

At the request of law enforcement officials, Douglas then opened a black leather laptop case in his possession and revealed a passport that did not belong to him, but to a second unnamed female, prompting police to seize Douglas’ possessions.

“It was determined that he did not work for the Congressional office and the valid owner of the lost identification card did not know him or give him permission to use the card,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.

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