Man's identity paid for others' bills  'Very easy targets' to be
victimizedWhile acquaintance used it for heart bypass, caregiver
bought house, vehicles and more  September 18, 2008|By Joel Hood
and Stacy St. Clair, TRIBUNE REPORTERS  Philip Johnson sits at
home watching "Jeopardy," unequipped to understand the peril to
his health and home caused by people doing business in his name.
A month ago, the mentally disabled man made headlines when his
identity was used by a man desperate to pay for heart bypass
surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Joliet police charged
John Parsons, 57, an ex-con from Oak Park, with felony identity
theft for racking up close to $350,000 in medical bills in
Johnson's name.  Police consider the case closed, but a review
of public documents suggests that the wrongs against Johnson may
run deeper than the heart surgery. A Tribune investigation found
that for at least the last four years, Johnson's identity has
been used by two convicted felons who ruined his good credit and
left