Police: Man stole dead child’s name

NILES - Robert Bonanno of Niles said he hasn't had regular contact with his 47-year-old son, Joseph, for years.

Terry Hyde of Farmdale lost his son, Timothy Welland, just days after his birth in 1976.

Federal prosecutors say a former Niles man has been living under both names for years after a run-in with the law back in 1988. He faces federal charges of wire fraud and filing false statements about his identity as a stockbroker and investment adviser in Canton.

"We had a falling out a long time ago," said Robert Bonanno, of his son, Joseph, now 47. "He was young and messed up when he was about 20 years old. He got in some trouble and he changed his (identity)."

Joseph Bonanno was born May 7, 1961. Robert Bonanno, of Niles, said his son grew up in Niles and graduated from Warren JFK in 1979. He moved away when he was about 18, and lived in Massachusetts, for a while where he was charged with two counts of larceny in connection with a bank theft in 1988.

According to federal court records, Joseph Bonanno obtained a new social security number in 1992 under the name of Timothy Welland Hyde, the same name of a Farmdale baby who had died in the hospital Feb. 12, 1976, nine days after his birth. The baby had not been issued a social security number, court records said, and is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ashtabula County.

Terry Hyde, Timothy Hyde's father who still lives in Farmdale, did not return calls for comment for this story. His brother-in-law, James Powell, did call the Tribune to verify the story was being written and that a reporter had called for comment. He said Hyde wasn't aware his son's identity had been taken until contacted by reporters just before the charges were filed.

''We got a cold call from a reporter,'' said Powell. ''In this day and age, we wondered what it is all about. It went on from there.''

Bonanno was indicted April 8 on one count of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements since 2001, when he first entered the stockbroker / financial adviser profession.

According to court documents, during Bonanno's dealings as and in becoming a stockbroker and financial adviser most recently owning Hyde Financial he filed 45 different false statements to various financial regulators, having used Hyde's identity and not his own. Also in his dealings, he was not truthful about and covered up his larceny charges, said court documents.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget Brennan, who is prosecuting the case, couldn't say how long Bonanno had been under investigation or what type of consequences he faces if convicted. His arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Akron.

Brennan did say what Hyde is accused of doing is uncommon.

"I think it's fairly uncommon for someone to be able to assume an identity and carry on this long," she said. "It's pretty uncommon."

Bonanno's Cleveland-based attorney, Ian N. Friedman, said his client is no longer associated with his business or any of his business dealings. He emphasized that there was never concern with or unlawful conduct regarding Bonanno's business practices.

''The decision as to his identity that's in question ... was made 20 years ago,'' said Friedman. ''His conduct since then evidences the type of person we would want in our community. He's been a contributing member of society for 20 years.''

He said they intend to seek a swift resolution to the charges, and that they are confident those contributions will ''weigh heavily in his favor.''

Robert Bonanno said his son has been married and has kids. His local family, said Robert Bonanno, has been upset with the news, his son's charges and the fact they are being covered in the media. He also emphasized his son's activities did not affect his work and business.

''I don't know where he's at,'' said Robert Bonanno. ''We had a falling out a long time ago. We haven't had any contact.''

Joseph Bonanno's mother, Fatima, would not talk to a reporter at her Niles home this week.

dloreno@tribtoday.com