Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced David Watkins, 31 , to 81 months in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, bank fraud, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Bartlett Police Department investigators responded to a burglary at Keytrader, an automotive locksmith business, on June 28, 2022, where suspects stole various equipment and key fobs. While fleeing the scene, one suspect dropped a cell phone. Examination of the cell phone assisted investigators in identifying Watkins as one of the suspects of the burglary.
While executing search warrants at addresses associated with Watkins, Bartlett Police detectives located the equipment and key fobs stolen from Keytrader, along with notebooks and documentation evidencing vehicle theft, bank fraud, and identity theft.
Further investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Social Security Administration revealed that Watkins had committed aggravated identity theft and bank fraud by using personal identifying information of various individuals to create fraudulent bank accounts and causing unauthorized withdrawals of funds from victims’ bank accounts to be deposited into accounts controlled by Watkins. Additionally, Watkins fraudulently possessed numerous counterfeit and unauthorized social security numbers with the intent to commit fraud.
On July 27, 2022, Bartlett Police investigators located Watkins at a residence in Memphis entering a 1999 GMC Sierra which had previously been reported stolen. When officers approached Watkins, he fled on foot, dropping bags containing a FN America 9mm caliber pistol, key programmers, key fobs, and a face covering.
On the evening of February 23, 2023, Memphis Police officers observed a silver Mercedes G500 being driven with no license plate and with its headlights off. When officers approached, the driver, who was identified as Watkins, fled on foot and tossed a Springfield Armory 9mm caliber pistol while running. The Mercedes G500 had also previously been reported stolen.
On January 9, 2026, Watkins pled guilty to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. On June 24, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Watkins to 81 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Watkins’ diversified portfolio of criminality finally caught up with him. He is clearly an opportunist who was willing to repeatedly victimize and endanger citizens by any means available, and this federal prison sentence is well deserved.”
This case was investigated by the Bartlett Police Department, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Social Security Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Western District of Tennessee — U.S. Department of Justice press release.