Man hijacks Paul Allen's debit card

SEATTLE — Microsoft co-founder and Seahawks owner Paul Allen, the 23rd richest man in the U.S., was the victim of identity theft.

According to a federal criminal complaint, the 28-year old AWOL soldier from Pittsburgh, Brandon Lee Price, called Citibank in January and was able to change the address on Paul Allen's account from Seattle to one in Pittsburgh.

FBI documents said Price told Citibank he misplaced his debit card and had a new card sent to a Pittsburgh address. Price added a phone number to that account as well, documents said.

Price used the card to make a payment on a delinquent Armed Forces bank account, documents said.

The complaint said someone using the debit card attempted to conduct a telephone transaction for $15,000 through Western Union.

The AWOL soldier was caught on video attempting to use the fraudulent card in Pittsburgh and was arrested March 2, police said.

Price was charged with wire fraud and bank fraud.  He's due in court next week.

KIRO