Harvey man CHRISTOPHER WATSON, 29, is headed to federal prison for 57 months after admitting to a slick, high-dollar scam that exploited stolen identities to rip off lenders across Louisiana. On August 11, 2020, U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter handed down the sentence for conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, along with aggravated identity theft — crimes that drained victims of $433,949.49.
WATSON, a former used car salesman, turned his inside knowledge into a weapon. He submitted wave after wave of fraudulent auto loan applications using real customer data he wasn’t authorized to use — and in other cases, entirely fabricated or stolen identities. Financial institutions like USAA Financial, Westlake Financial Services, and United Auto Credit Corporation were all duped, left holding bad paper on vehicles they never should have financed.
The scheme wasn’t amateur hour. WATSON forged dealership names and used legitimate dealer license numbers to make the transactions appear authentic. He even impersonated sellers on loan forms, making the fraud look like routine business. One particularly bold move: using a USAA member’s identity to file a loan application directly with the military-backed financial institution.
WATSON pleaded guilty to charges under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1344, 371, and 1028A. The 57-month sentence reflects 33 months for conspiracy and a mandatory 24 months for aggravated identity theft, served consecutively — no shortcuts, no leniency.
He’s also on the hook for every penny stolen. Per his plea agreement, WATSON must pay full restitution: $433,949.49. Judge Vitter tacked on two years of supervised release post-prison, ensuring federal eyes stay on him when he reenters society.
The case was built through joint efforts by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service Financial Crimes Taskforce. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh led the prosecution, with U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser commending the agencies for bringing WATSON’s fraud ring to justice.
RELATED: Maui Official Gets 10 Years for $2M Bribery Scheme
RELATED: Dayton Felon Gets 42 Months for Packing Heat Illegally
Related Federal Cases
- Jason Christopher Devillier Sentenced in $474K Bank Fraud Scheme · Louisiana
- Tyrone Bradshaw Sentenced for Sex Offender Registration Fraud · Louisiana
- Deborah Fortner Indicted for LRHP Fraud · Louisiana
- New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Tax Fraud · Louisiana
- Gretna Technician Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Conspiracy · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
