Houston Man Arrested After Buying Beauty Salon With Stolen Identity
December 12, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact: Patrick Shaughnessy
512-463-3208
AUSTIN - An investigation by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) resulted in the arrest Monday morning of a Houston man who is accused of stealing the identity of a San Jacinto County man and using the identity to purchase and operate a Houston beauty salon.
William Cornell Robinson, 36, was arrested Monday morning by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers when he arrived at Hair All-Starz Barber and Beauty Salon, 12019 Bammel North Houston, to meet with TDLR investigators. He is accused of using a San Jacinto County man’s identity for 10 years to purchase goods and services, and also of operating as a cosmetologist using the San Jacinto County resident’s license.
The victim was contacted the TDLR earlier this month in response to a consumer complaint filed with the agency. The victim told TDLR that Robinson had stolen his identity and was using his cosmetology license to provide services in various Houston-area salons. TDLR investigators located Robinson at his salon, seized his license and notified DPS of his location.
Robinson purchased the salon, which formerly was known as Awesome Hair Salon,
from the previous owner this past summer. The previous owner, who still works
in the salon, told TDLR that Robinson had introduced himself as the victim
and used the victim’s identity to purchase the salon and to serve as
a cosmetologist in the salon after the purchase. The business license for the
salon expired, however, and Robinson did not attempt to renew it. Robinson
also does not hold a cosmetologist’s license or any type of license that
would allow him to provide any services in a salon.
The TDLR investigators notified DPS late last week that they had located Robinson,
and he was arrested on a warrant from San Jacinto County accusing him of identity
theft, based on a criminal complaint filed earlier this year by the victim.
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