'Imposter' Now Faces New Charges

Summary

Reggie Malone, accused of making bogus claims that he was a military officer to gain trust of women, now faces theft charges.

Story Published: Feb 19, 2003 at 1:36 PM PST

Story Updated: Aug 30, 2006 at 11:58 PM PST

'Imposter' Now Faces New Charges
KING COUNTY - KOMO 4 News was the first to tell you about "the imposter" -- he's the man who masqueraded as a Navy officer on the Internet, to prey on local women.

Reggie Malone hid his face as he walked in to court Wednesday to learn his punishment for a probation violation.

During a two month investigation, dozens of women told us that Malone hid the real Reggie from them too.

Women like Catherine, who says Malone told them he was a decorated Navy SEAL, or a crash investigator for Boeing.

With these bogus claims, he gained their trust, their love. Then, according to some of the women, this imposter took their money.

"He left me with $23,000 on my credit cards," said victim Janice.

Janice married Malone. But when she learned he wasn't who he claimed, she had the marriage annulled based on fraud.

Now, thanks in part to our investigation, King County prosecutors have filed new theft charges against Malone for allegedly running up all that debt on Janice's credit cards.

We caught up with Malone last month at a Tukwila Motel as police arrested him on an old theft warrant.

KOMO 4 News has learned Malone never spent a day in the military. He has past convictions for armed robbery, theft, and impersonating a King County Sheriff's Deputy.

He's been in jail ever since his arrest in Tukwila for violating probation on a theft conviction.

That conviction was for stealing jewelry from Geraldine and her roommate. He violated probation when he never paid them back.

Wednesday, Judge Deborah Fleck ordered Malone to spend 30 days in jail and to begin paying that restitution next month.

Prosecutors have asked that Malone be held on $200,000 bail because they're afraid if he's let out, he'll run away.