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Counterfeit Credit Card Ring Busted at Theme Parks
In a shocking case of financial fraud, four family members from Kissimmee, Florida have been sentenced to federal prison for using counterfeit credit cards to buy theme park tickets in the Orlando area. Eileen Hightower, 50, and her children, Samuel Velasquez, Jr., 26, and Sabrina Velasquez, 25, were each sentenced to serve a term of three years in federal prison. Hightower’s niece, Jennifer Cancel, 28, from Hartford, Connecticut, also received a three-year sentence.
The court also ordered the individuals to pay a total of $107,097.33 in restitution. Each of the defendants previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the case.
According to court documents, the group obtained counterfeit driver licenses and credit cards encoded with stolen account information. The account numbers belonged to cardholders who were victimized by this scheme. The counterfeit credit cards were used to purchase Orlando-area theme park tickets at hotel ticket kiosks throughout central Florida.
The tickets were then resold to ticket resellers in Kissimmee, resulting in over $100,000 in theme park tickets being fraudulently purchased and then resold over a period of a few months.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Irick prosecuted the case.
Senior U.S. District Judge G. Kendall Sharp presided over the sentencing hearing. The case is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our financial information and the consequences of engaging in financial crimes.
The sentences handed down in this case serve as a warning to those who would engage in similar schemes. Financial crimes will not be tolerated, and those who commit them will be brought to justice.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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