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United States of America v. Stephen H. Keith
Date: 12-17-2025
Case Number:
Judge:
Court: United States District Court for the central District of District of Illinois (Peoria County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office in Peoria
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Peoria Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Peoria, Illinois, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with perpetrating a wire fraud and identity theft scheme starting as early as August 2020 and continuing to August 2024.
Stephen H. Keith, age 35, of East Peoria, Illinois ran a company called DeviceLyfe that was never registered with the State of Illinois. According to the indictment, Keith used that purported company to gain access to individuals’ homes and electronic devices, facilitating the theft of personal information. Keith also allegedly downloaded others’ personal and financial information via the internet, collecting and storing information for tens of millions of individuals.
Keith is alleged to have use this information to create and attempt to create false identification documents, to access his victims’ accounts, to steal funds, and to impersonate his victims.
The indictment charges Keith with wire fraud (Counts One through Four), obtaining information by computer from a financial institution (Count Five), possession of a means of identification (Counts Six through Eight), aggravated identity theft (Counts Nine through Ten), and making a false statement (Count Eleven).
Keith was initially charged by federal criminal complaint in December 2025. He was detained and remains in federal custody.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud and up to five years’ imprisonment on each of the counts of obtaining information by computer from a financial institution, possession of a means of identification, and making a false statement. Keith also faces a mandatory sentence of two consecutive years’ imprisonment on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. Additional penalties, including fines and forfeiture of assets, may be imposed.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Stephen H. Keith, age 35, of East Peoria, Illinois ran a company called DeviceLyfe that was never registered with the State of Illinois. According to the indictment, Keith used that purported company to gain access to individuals’ homes and electronic devices, facilitating the theft of personal information. Keith also allegedly downloaded others’ personal and financial information via the internet, collecting and storing information for tens of millions of individuals.
Keith is alleged to have use this information to create and attempt to create false identification documents, to access his victims’ accounts, to steal funds, and to impersonate his victims.
The indictment charges Keith with wire fraud (Counts One through Four), obtaining information by computer from a financial institution (Count Five), possession of a means of identification (Counts Six through Eight), aggravated identity theft (Counts Nine through Ten), and making a false statement (Count Eleven).
Keith was initially charged by federal criminal complaint in December 2025. He was detained and remains in federal custody.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of wire fraud and up to five years’ imprisonment on each of the counts of obtaining information by computer from a financial institution, possession of a means of identification, and making a false statement. Keith also faces a mandatory sentence of two consecutive years’ imprisonment on each of the aggravated identity theft counts. Additional penalties, including fines and forfeiture of assets, may be imposed.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Outcome:
A criminal charge is not proof of guilt.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Stephen H. Keith?
The outcome was: A criminal charge is not proof of guilt.
Which court heard United States of America v. Stephen H. Keith?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the central District of District of Illinois (Peoria County), IL.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Stephen H. Keith?
Plaintiff's attorney: United States District Attorney’s Office in Peoria. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Peoria Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Stephen H. Keith decided?
This case was decided on December 17, 2025.