A Los Angeles, California man has pleaded guilty to a scheme involving the theft of a Richmond auto shop owner’s identity and subsequent wire fraud charges.
According to court documents, Daniel Cruz, 30, obtained the owner’s personal information and used it to take over the auto shop and its owner’s accounting software, bank accounts, email addresses, and phone numbers.
Between January 2022 and February 2023, Cruz re-routed calls to the auto shop to his own phone, transferred money from the shop’s and owner’s bank accounts to his personal account, and took out loans in the owner’s name. He also ordered auto parts in Los Angeles and billed them to the Richmond auto shop.
The total loss resulting from Cruz’s crimes totaled at least $34,514.87.
Cruz is scheduled to be sentenced on August 31 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 consecutive years in prison for aggravated identity theft, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Gibbons is prosecuting the case.
The Central Virginia Financial Crimes Task Force, a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and representatives of local financial institutions, played a key role in the investigation.
A copy of the press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Related Federal Cases
- Lejohn Windom Sr., Tax Fraud and Identity Theft, California 2024 · Alaska
- William Michael Andrews, VA Grant Theft and ID Fraud, Virginia 2024 · Maryland
- Benjamin Rosenberg, Health Care Fraud and Identity Theft, California · California
- Sunyu Qian, Access Device Fraud and Wire Fraud, Virginia 2024 · California
- Lamont Godfrey, Maritime Mail/Wire Fraud, Virginia 2024 · New York
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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