A 23-year-old ex-convict accused of pulling a cruel hoax by pretending to be a long-missing Illinois boy was charged Friday with making false statements to U.S. authorities.

The FBI said Brian Rini had made false claims twice before, portraying himself as a juvenile sex-trafficking victim.

The charge should send a message about the damage such false claims can do, said U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman.

"It's not OK to do it because of the harm that it causes, the pain, for the family of that missing child," Glassman said.



Rini, of Medina, Ohio, was identified by the FBI as the person who claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen, who disappeared in 2011 at age six. Rini was found Wednesday in Newport, Ky., "wandering the street and looking confused and in need of assistance," the affidavit said.

After identifying himself as Pitzen, Rini complained of abdominal pain and was taken to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Emergency Room, the affidavit said. Rini refused to be fingerprinted Wednesday and Thursday but agreed to a DNA test which on Thursday identified him as Rini, according to Braun.

Rini's story had briefly raised hope among Timmothy's relatives that the youngster's disappearance had finally been solved after eight long years. But those hopes were dashed when the test results came back.

"It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again," said Timmothy's aunt Kara Jacobs.

Rini was jailed for a bail hearing on Tuesday. His public defender did not immediately return a message. Rini could get up to eight years in prison.

Claimed to be forced to have sex against his will

Even after Rini was advised of his rights and warned against making false statements, he continued to insist he was Pitzen and that he had escaped from a hotel where he'd been forced to have sex with men against his will, the affidavit said.

Timmothy Pitzen went missing in Illinois in 2011 after his mother picked him up from school and took him to a zoo and a water park. She later died by suicide. (Aurora Police Department/Associated Press)

Rini finally acknowledged his identity after being confronted with the DNA results, said he had watched a story about Pitzen on ABC's 20/20 news program, and had wanted to get away from his family, the FBI said.

Rini said "he wished he had a father like Timmothy's because if he went missing, his father would just keep drinking," the FBI said in court papers. A message left with Rini's father for comment was not immediately returned.

Timmothy's family had been cautiously hopeful over Wednesday's news, as were neighbours and others who'd long wondered whether he is dead or alive.

"Law enforcement has not and will not forget Timmothy, and we hope to one day reunite him with his family. Unfortunately, that day will not be today," FBI spokesperson Timothy Beam said in a statement Thursday.

'We're always worried about copycats'

Timmothy vanished after his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, pulled him out of kindergarten early one day, took him on a two-day road trip to the zoo and a water park, and then killed herself at a hotel.

She left a note saying that her son was safe with people who would love and care for him, and added: "You will never find him."

It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting. - Alana Anderson, grandmother

In Timmothy's hometown of Aurora, Ill., police Sgt. Bill Rowley said that over the years his department has received thousands of tips about Timmothy, including false sightings.

"We're always worried about copycats, especially something that has a big national attention like this," Rowley said.

Timmothy's family members said they were heartbroken at the latest twist.

"It's devastating. It's like reliving that day all over again, and Timmothy's father is devastated once again," said his aunt Kara Jacobs.

This composite photo shows a concrete slab with Timmothy's name, footprint and handprint, which still lies in the yard of the house where he lived. (Carrie Antlfinger/Associated Press )

The boy's grandmother Alana Anderson said: "It's been awful. We've been on tenterhooks, hopeful and frightened. It's just been exhausting." She added, "I feel so sorry for the young man who's obviously had a horrible time and felt the need to say he was somebody else."

Rini's DNA was already on file because of his criminal record. He was released from prison less than a month ago after serving more than a year for burglary and vandalism.

In 2017, Rini was treated at an Ohio centre for people with mental health or substance abuse problems, according to court papers.