DMX Charged With Identify Theft

Rapper indicted on felony charges for supposedly using a fake name to get out of paying a hospital bill

By Natalie Finn Jul 23, 2008 2:10 AMTags
DMXPaul Redmond/WireImage.com

It's no wonder DMX might want to be somebody else.

An Arizona grand jury indicted the rapper Tuesday on two felony counts of theft and taking someone's identify for allegedly using a false name to get out of paying a hospital bill in April, according to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.

The 37-year-old, whose real name is Earl Simmons, is said to have tried to pass himself off as "Troy Jones" while undergoing treatment for pneumonia at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.

Cops picked DMX up on an outstanding warrant Saturday at the Metrocenter mall in Phoenix, the Cradle 2 the Grave star's sixth arrest in three months.

DMX, who's also facing an 11-count animal-cruelty and drug-possession rap in Maricopa County, was last arrested July 2 for missing a court date related to those charges, to all of which he's pleaded not guilty.

That arrest took place at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport upon his return from Florida, where he was collared twice—once for driving with an invalid license and a few days later for allegedly trying to buy marijuana and cocaine from an undercover cop.

Before a second raid on his home in May resulted in the animal and drug case, DMX was nabbed May 6 for speeding.