(CNN) -- A man who faked his drowning death nearly 20 years ago off a Florida beach was found out by North Carolina police who stopped him for a traffic violation, authorities said Thursday. Bennie Wint told police he faked his drowning death in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1989. Bennie Wint left behind a grieving fiancee and a daughter from a previous marriage. Over the past two decades, he acquired a common-law wife and another child in Marshall, North Carolina. Wint told police he faked his death in Daytona Beach, Florida, because he was "paranoid" about his narcotics-related activity at the time, Weaverville, North Carolina, police Sgt. Stacy Wyatt told CNN.
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North Carolina officer didn't believe man's story during traffic stop
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He couldn't find name man that gave in police database
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Eventually, "James Sweet" confessed he was Bennie Wint
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Wint was reported missing off Daytona Beach, Florida, in September 1989
James Sweet
When pulled over in Weaverville on Saturday because of malfunctioning lights on his license plate, the man said his name was @placeholder, Wyatt said.
Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach
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Petersohn said he is attempting to find the lifeguard on duty at @placeholder the day Wint disappeared to tell him the truth about the supposed drowning.