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Florida Sex Offender Arrested In Athens County Accused Of Identity Theft

A 40-year old sex offender from Florida is in the Southeast Ohio Regional Jail after the Athens County Sheriff says he stole his brother's identity.

Pat Kelly says Nicholas Gallinoto was arrested in Athens County yesterday.

Investigators say Gallinoto was wanted on a Florida warrant for failure to comply with sexual offender registration.

Deputies say Gallinoto was using his brother's name, Jerry Gallinoto.

Jerry Gallinoto, who lives in Florida, had filed an identity theft complaint saying someone was using his name and ruining his credit.

Investigators say he recently learned it was his brother.

It is believed that Nicholas Gallinoto has been using his brother's name for at least the past six years to hide from the state of Florida.

Nicholas Gallinoto was convicted in 1999 for a second degree felony of a sex offense against a child.

Kelly says possible charges of identity theft may be filed in Athens County after the investigation is complete.