New information on an Orange Mound tax preparer and convicted identity thief. This time, the owner of an appliance store says he’s out more than $14,000 worth of appliances.
Just over a week ago, The Local I-Team told you about Pia Sims. She has a long arrest record for identity theft. After our Local I-Team report, where the owner of a carpet store says Sims ripped him off, another victim has come forward.
The owner Happy Appliance store says 3 months ago Pia Sims ripped him off. But he says it took until now for him and Memphis Police to connect the dots and figure out who the thief really is.
Yahaha Mbeyu says a woman who went by the name of Heidi Jefferson came into his store and went on a shopping spree.
“They keep charging and charging and charging,” said Mbeyu.
Only after the items were delivered to a house on Kimball Cove did Mbeyu learn the credit card used was stolen and it wasn’t Heidi Jefferson who purchased the appliances. He says it was Pia Sims.
The puzzle was only put together after Anthony Elmore talked to the Local I-Team two weeks ago, saying Sims also used the alias Heidi Jefferson, and ripped him off for $2800 after he installed carpeting in her tax preparation shop. Elmore says she also paid using a bogus credit card.
The address on SIms previous arrest tickets is a house on Kimball Cove. That’s the same location where Mbeyu delivered the appliances.
Two weeks ago when we went to the tax preparation shop Sims owns to talk to her about the carpet situation, she threatened us.
“Before I go to jail for kicking you m*****f****** ass out here, I’m going to ask you to get the **** from in front of my building or I’m gona get touchy feely with you,” said Sims.
When we went back to ask her about the stolen appliances, no one was there, so we called the number on the door of the tax shop. The man who answered claimed he had no idea who Sims was. “Ain’t no body by that name here they got a new number.”
The Local I-Team found Memphis Police reports that go back to 2010. Victims say Sims stole their personal information in a variety of different scams.
Mbeyu doesn’t understand why Sims isn’t in jail. If she was, he says he and the others might not be victims today.
“We need justice and we need our money back,” said Mbeyu.
Sims is currently facing identity theft charges in two separate cases unrelated to these situations. She is due in court next week on those charges.
