BARRY SHI, Wire Fraud, Illinois 2024

Crime: Twenty-two individuals have been indicted on fraud and identity theft charges for allegedly purchasing and using credit, debit, and gift cards that were stolen in a cyber attack from a national retail chain.

In a shocking case of cybercrime, BARRY SHI, 35, of Rosemead, Calif., has been charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the use of stolen payment cards. According to the indictment, the cyber attack occurred in 2016 and 2017 when an individual installed a malicious software program on multiple computers of the retail chain, headquartered in the Chicago area.

The defendants used data from the cards to purchase items at businesses throughout the country, including restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, the charges allege. At least 80 people were victimized by the defendants' conduct, the indictment states.

BARRY SHI is one of the 22 defendants who have been arrested and are currently making initial appearances in federal courts throughout the country. Two defendants remain at large and are believed to be residing overseas. The investigation remains ongoing.

Charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft are:

• BARRY SHI, 35, of Rosemead, Calif.
• ANDREW DARIEN MCLEOD, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
• JAMEL T. WILLIAMS, 30, of Raleigh, N.C.
• SAAQUAN RAM, 33, of Grand Rapids, Mich.
• JAMES B. GIBBS, 32, of South Carolina
• YI LIU, 32, of Temple City, Calif.
• CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, 38, of Monroe Township, N.J.
• DAJUAN GEE, 32, of Redmond, Mich.
• YANG SONG, 34, of Rosemead, Calif.
• JAYVON A. PUGH, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
• KADEEM DEAN, 28, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
• ENPING QU, 26, of Calif.
• CAN JIANG, 27, of San Gabriel, Calif.
• ESRON A. MURRELL, 30, of Jamaica, N.Y.
• ZANPENG CHEN, 27, of Los Angeles, Calif.
• JEFF MURAT, 41, of Miami, Fla.
• CHRISTOPHER T. THOMPSON, 32, of Woodland Hills, Calif.
• JOHN LIU, 37, of West Covina, Calif.
• SADIKIFU NAWAB SHABAZZ, 42, of Atlanta, Ga.
• BYRON HICKMAN, 32, of New York, N.Y.
• CLIVE BAKER, 26, of New York, N.Y.
• DAVIN SMART, 31, of Spotsylvania, Va.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory, consecutive prison sentence of two years.

According to the indictment, the co-schemer sold the card data for $4 million in bitcoin to another individual, who in turn sold it online to thousands of others, including the 22 charged defendants.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/federal-indictment-charges-22-individuals-purchasing-and-using-payment-cards-stolen