A Cleveland man has been charged with a serious crime that could have far-reaching consequences for his victims. Najee Muhammad, aka Paul Cook, age 50, of Cleveland, has been accused of three counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of access device fraud.
According to the indictment, Muhammad stole and used the identities of three separate individuals in 2013 and 2014. The indictment also charges that Muhammad knowingly and with the intent to defraud, traffic in and use one or more unauthorized access devices, obtained approximately $31,762 by fraudulently charging merchandise and services on various credit accounts, including Capital One, Dell, Galls Police Equipment, AT&T, CitiBank, Target, Safe Home Security, and Dish Network.
The indictment alleges that Muhammad’s crimes were committed over a two-year period, with the defendant using the stolen identities to obtain thousands of dollars in credits and services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chelsea Rice and Adam Hollingsworth after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The maximum sentence for aggravated identity theft is 10 years in prison, while the maximum sentence for access device fraud is 10 years in prison. However, in most cases, the sentence will be less than the maximum.
The case serves as a reminder that identity theft is a serious crime that can have devastating consequences for its victims. The public is urged to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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