SPRINGFIELD -- A federal jury convicted a former Springfield police officer for using his ex-wife’s identity in a scheme to defraud a credit card company and an online payment service.  Charles Johnson, 45, could receive a prison sentence of up to 70 years, or a fine up to $1 million, for three counts of mail fraud and one count of credit card fraud.

Johnson was an officer with the Springfield Police Department. A grand jury indicted him nearly a year ago.

From November 2003 to Aug. 31, 2005, according to federal prosecutors, Johnson executed a scheme to defraud by using the personal information of his ex-wife to open three separate credit accounts with Capital One and an account with PayPal.  Investigators said Johnson used all four fraudulent accounts to obtain goods and services through online purchases shipped to his home in Springfield as well as advances obtained at various locations.

Capital One sent bills in the name of Johnson’s ex-wife to Johnson’s home.  To keep the accounts open, prosecutors said, Johnson made minimum payments on all three credit card accounts using money orders. Johnson obtained several thousand dollars in goods and services using the fraudulent credit cards and PayPal account, which he did not repay.

The U.S. attorney's office says the U.S. District Court jury deliberated about an hour before returning the guilty verdict after a three-day trial.  Besides prison or a fine, District Judge Richard Dorr could order Johnson to make restitution.  A sentencing hearing is not scheduled.