Bangor, Maine – Ariel Perez-Calvo, 28, of Miami, Florida, has pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Perez-Calvo, along with Roberto Lueje-Rodriguez, used debit and credit card account numbers belonging to Maine bank customers to make unauthorized purchases totaling more than $50,000.
The unauthorized purchases were made between January 7 and January 13, 2016, in eight counties across Maine: Penobscot, Knox, Hancock, Piscataquis, Franklin, Somerset, Kennebec, and Androscoggin. In addition, Perez-Calvo and Lueje-Rodriguez made similar unauthorized purchases in Manchester and Concord, New Hampshire in November 2015.
The fake cards used by Perez-Calvo and Lueje-Rodriguez bore the name ‘David Cuan,’ which was not the name of any of the victims. Each card had a unique account number and appeared to be an authentic debit or credit card, but their magnetic strips were encoded with the true account numbers of the victims.
Perez-Calvo faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for access device fraud, as well as an additional mandatory minimum period of imprisonment of two years for aggravated identity theft. He will also be ordered to pay full restitution. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.
Lueje-Rodriguez, Perez-Calvo’s co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to access device fraud and aggravated identity theft charges on July 8, 2016, and awaits sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Maine State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bangor, Brewer, Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Ellsworth, Hampden, Lincoln, Millinocket, Newport, Pittsfield, Rockland, Saco, Waterville (Maine) and Londonderry (New Hampshire) Police Departments.
Perez-Calvo’s real full name is Ariel Perez-Calvo. The exact criminal charges are access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The city and state are Bangor, Maine. The exact date is between January 7 and January 13, 2016. Perez-Calvo’s sentence includes up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, as well as an additional two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. The dollar amount is over $50,000.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Maine
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News