Special Agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have obtained indictments in two counties for a former Tennessee resident accused of committing forgery in an attempt to obtain his real estate license.

At the request of 15th District Attorney General Tommy Thompson and 20th District Attorney General Glenn Funk, TBI Special Agents began investigating Clifford Elliot Ryan on February 27, 2014. During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information that on two different occasions, Ryan hired two different individuals to submit their fingerprints as his so he could obtain a Tennessee real estate license. The investigation additionally revealed Ryan believed prior arrests on his record would prevent him from passing the background check necessary for obtaining a license.

In January, the Wilson County Grand Jury returned indictments for Ryan, charging the 29-year-old with one count of Criminal Simulation and one count of Forgery/Passing a Forged Instrument in Wilson County. In March, the Davidson County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Ryan with one count of Fabrication of Evidence, one count of Attempted Fabrication of Evidence, and one count of Criminal Simulation. On Monday, Ryan, who relocated to Chicago this year, turned himself into a TBI Agent at the Wilson County Jail, where he was booked and released after posting $10,000 bond. He was subsequently transported to the Davidson County Jail, where he was booked and released after posting $10,000 bond.