ID Theft Leaves First Coast Family in the Dark

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- John and Rhonda Amrol say life in their modest Westside home has been difficult.

"It has been rough," says Rhonda Amrol. It was always like that, but in February, the Jacksonville Electric Authority cut off the Amrol's electric service.

John Amrol says, "They said I owe them $1,776 and I'm telling them the bill is not mine."

In fact, the 2005 past-due bill has been linked to an apartment complex on Justina Road in the Arlington Community.

"We have never lived there," says John Amrol.

Amrol says he lived in the house next door for the past three years before moving into the rental on Corot Drive.

He says before that, he lived in the Sandalwood area, but never in the apartment on Justina Road.

"It makes you mad because you know it isn't right," says Rhonda Amrol.

John Amrol filed a stolen identity police report and is disputing the bill with the JEA.

He was using a generator to power his refrigerator until it stopped working. So now he's using ice-filled coolers to store his food and a gas grill to cook.

He says he's tired of living like this and wants the utility to turn the electricity back on.

"I don't feel I should have to pay anyone's bill. I'm at wit's end and don't know what to do," says Amrol.

After the JEA turned off his power, John Amrol tampered with his meter and turned on his power. The JEA disconnected it again, but that has created its own set of problems.

As for the Justina address, JEA spokesperson Gerri Boyce says this is the first they've heard of identity theft.

Boyce says the Justina account is one of four in Amrol's bankruptcy filing. She said the JEA will review the case.

We did our own background check and found that Amrol had many addresses, but we did not find one showing he ever lived at Justina Road.

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