Baltimore, MD – In a brazen scheme to live large without paying the price, Lavon Richard Caldwell, 31, of Baltimore, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to evidence presented in court, Caldwell used the personal identifying information of five individual victims to obtain credit accounts in their names. He then used these accounts to purchase high-priced merchandise, including designer clothing, electronics, and other personal items, without intending to pay for them.
The stolen information was used to obtain credit accounts from retail stores, including Neiman Marcus in Washington, D.C. Caldwell was arrested at the store on February 3, 2012, while attempting to purchase $4,000 in merchandise using a fraudulently obtained account and fake driver’s license.
Not only did Caldwell’s scheme land him in hot water, but it also caught up with him in a big way. At the time of his arrest, he was on supervised release after serving 61 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a similar scheme.
Caldwell’s luck ran out, and he was sentenced to 21 months in prison for violating his supervised release, to be served concurrently with the eight-year sentence. He must also pay restitution of $16,024.70.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Secret Service and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. ‘Their efforts have helped bring this defendant to justice,’ Rosenstein said.
The total amount of stolen merchandise totals at least $70,677.52, with items including luxury items such as Hermes sweaters and Gucci bags. This is not Caldwell’s first rodeo, as he was convicted in a similar scheme in 2007.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Budlow and Michael Cunningham prosecuted the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release —
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