BOSTON – A brazen scheme to fleece unsuspecting bank customers in the Boston area and on the North Shore has landed a Brazilian national in federal court. Helisson Benazi de Souza, 38, pleaded guilty today to a slew of charges related to a sophisticated ATM skimming operation that netted him $43,000 in May 2017.
De Souza admitted to one count of using counterfeit access devices (debit cards); one count of possessing 15 or more counterfeit access devices (debit cards); three counts of possessing device-making equipment (ATM skimming devices); one count of illegal transactions with an access device (other persons’ debit cards); and two counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young has scheduled sentencing for June 19, 2018. The feds are looking to put him away for a long stretch.
The operation was chillingly simple, yet effective. De Souza and his crew installed meticulously crafted skimming devices – disguised as legitimate card readers – on ATMs throughout Metro Boston. These devices captured debit card information as customers made transactions. Simultaneously, hidden pinhole cameras recorded unsuspecting cardholders entering their PINs. The stolen data was then transferred to blank plastic cards, including stolen gift cards and hotel key cards, creating perfect “clones” of the victim’s debit cards.
Law enforcement caught onto the scheme after a bank’s fraud investigator noticed a suspicious pattern of withdrawals from compromised accounts at ATMs in Lynn. A swift police response led to De Souza’s arrest. A search of his vehicle revealed a stash of $20 bills totaling thousands of dollars, along with over 200 reprogrammed gift cards and hotel key cards – each bearing a small sticker with a stolen PIN. Surveillance footage from banks in Malden and Saugus confirmed De Souza was the man installing and removing the skimming devices.
The penalties facing De Souza are substantial. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence, in addition to potential time on the other charges. Using counterfeit access devices could land him up to 10 years behind bars, while possessing the skimming equipment carries a potential 15-year sentence. Illegal transactions and possessing 15+ counterfeit devices each carry up to 10 years. Each charge also comes with a hefty fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by Judge Young, taking into account federal guidelines.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, along with Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, and Lynn Police Chief Michael A. Mageary, jointly announced the guilty plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case, and vows to bring all ATM fraudsters to justice. This bust sends a clear message: steal from Bostonians, and you’ll pay the price.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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