CAMDEN, NJ – Angel Angulo, 28, of Riverside, California, is headed to federal prison for three years after admitting his role in a brazen scheme to pilfer the financial information of nearly 94,000 Michaels customers across 19 states. U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced the sentencing today, marking a significant blow to the organized criminal network responsible for the massive data breach.
The operation, spanning February through April 2011, involved the surreptitious installation of counterfeit point-of-sale (POS) terminals in approximately 80 Michaels stores. These devices, equipped with wireless technology, silently captured customers’ debit and credit card data, including PINs, as they made purchases. The stolen information was then used to create counterfeit cards, fueling a wave of fraudulent ATM withdrawals.
According to court documents, Angulo and his co-conspirator, Crystal Banuelos, weren’t just involved in the data theft; they were actively withdrawing funds from the compromised accounts. Between April and May 2011, the pair obtained counterfeit cards with accompanying PINs and systematically drained hundreds of bank accounts. On May 14, 2011, authorities caught Angulo and Banuelos in New Jersey with a staggering 179 counterfeit cards in their possession.
U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez imposed the 36-month prison sentence on Angulo, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The judge also ordered Angulo to serve five years of supervised release upon his release and to pay $480,300 in restitution to the victims of the scheme. This isn’t just about stolen money; it’s about the disruption and anxiety caused to tens of thousands of Americans.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Secret Service under Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt, meticulously pieced together the conspiracy, tracing the counterfeit devices and the flow of stolen funds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Shapiro of the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section prosecuted the case, demonstrating a commitment to tackling complex financial crimes. Lisa Lewis, Assistant Federal Public Defender, represented Angulo.
Banuelos has also pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing on September 5, 2018. While Angulo’s sentence delivers a measure of justice, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by organized retail crime and the sophistication of modern skimming operations. The Secret Service continues to work tirelessly to protect the financial infrastructure and safeguard consumers from these predatory schemes.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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