$127K Thief Tyrus Veals Gets 12 Months in the Slammer

HAMMOND, INDIANA – Tyrus Veals, 30, of Lafayette, Indiana, has been sentenced to hard time for his role in a brazen Access Device Fraud scheme that left a retired Arizona couple high and dry.

According to court documents, Veals used stolen debit card information to swindle at least $127,667 from the unsuspecting couple’s bank account.

Over the course of approximately six months, Veals linked the couple’s debit card to various online gambling accounts he controlled, allowing him to make regular withdrawals from their account.

But Veals’ get-rich-quick scheme didn’t stop there. He then funneled the stolen funds out of his online accounts and into a personal bank account, where he used the cash to fund his own lavish lifestyle, including vacation travel and big-ticket purchases.

The victims, who had retired after 40 years of public service, were left to pick up the pieces and deal with the financial fallout of Veals’ deceitful actions.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Indiana Gaming Commission and the Purdue University Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater prosecuted the case, which resulted in Veals pleading guilty to Access Device Fraud.

Veals was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $127,667 to the victims.

As Veals begins his sentence, the people of Indiana can take comfort in knowing that justice has been served and that this deceitful individual will be held accountable for his crimes.

The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.