Aaron Johnson, Counterfeiting Credit Cards, Ohio 2018
Counterfeiting Credit Cards Scam Exposed: Aaron Johnson Sentenced to Prison
Aaron Johnson, 32, and his accomplice Timothy Banks, 22, thought they had found a way to make easy money by counterfeiting credit cards. But their scheme was short-lived, thanks to the sharp eyes of law enforcement.
According to court documents, Johnson and Banks conspired to make money through counterfeiting by re-encoding gift cards with stolen credit card account numbers. In August 2018, Johnson rented a U-Haul van in Rochester, Mich. for what was supposed to be a one-day rental. Instead, he kept the van for nearly a month and drove it over 8,000 miles, including to Miami County, Ohio.
On September 1, 2018, law enforcement officers observed Johnson and Banks asleep in the van connected to a gas station pump with the engine running. Officers approached the van at the Speedway gas station in Miami County, fearing the men had overdosed in the vehicle. Instead, they discovered Banks asleep at the wheel, and Johnson asleep on an inflatable mattress in the rear compartment of the van.
Inside the van, officers found a credit card reader/encoder, 12 counterfeit credit cards, 41 re-encoded gift cards, and a total of 54 credit card account numbers. They also discovered $100 in Target gift cards and $365 in iTunes gift cards.
Aaron Johnson was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 21 months in prison for conspiring to use counterfeit access devices. His accomplice, Timothy Banks, pleaded guilty in February 2019 to conspiring to use counterfeit access devices. Banks was sentenced earlier this year to probation with home confinement.
The sentencing was announced by David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, and Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak.
Johnson's case serves as a reminder of the importance of staying vigilant in the fight against financial crimes. With the rise of online transactions, counterfeiting credit cards has become a growing concern. But thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, perpetrators like Aaron Johnson will face justice for their crimes.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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