A brazen credit card fraud ring has been dismantled in Buffalo, New York, after law enforcement discovered 98 counterfeit credit cards in a vehicle driven by four Michigan residents.
The individuals, identified as Rodney Gilliam, 25, of Southfield, Michigan, Raina Johnson, 22, of Detroit, Michigan, Deantuan Wiley, 24, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, and George Brown, 24, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, face serious charges, including conspiracy to commit access device fraud and possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices.
The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Wiley, in addition to the conspiracy charge, faces a separate charge of possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
According to the complaint, the defendants were caught after a vehicle they were riding in was searched at the Lewiston Bridge on July 3, 2013. Law enforcement officers found the 98 counterfeit credit cards in the car, leading to a subsequent investigation that uncovered security surveillance videos from various retail stores in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York.
The videos revealed that the defendants had used numerous counterfeit credit cards to purchase gift cards and other merchandise. Some of the merchandise was also found in their vehicle.
The arrest is the result of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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