A Wisconsin man, a former hospital IT worker, has pleaded guilty to an identity theft scheme that spanned over 35 years, causing profound consequences for the victim. The thief, who stole the identity of a former coworker, managed to accrue $130,000 in debt under the victim's name. This long-term deception led to the real victim being wrongfully incarcerated and even committed to a mental institution after attempting to prove his identity. The case, which highlights severe flaws in identity verification processes, has ended with the perpetrator facing significant legal repercussions.