Daniel Cruz, Identity Theft, Virginia 2023

RICHMOND, VA – A brazen identity theft and financial fraud scheme targeting a local auto repair shop has landed a Los Angeles man in hot water. Daniel Cruz, 30, pleaded guilty today to charges stemming from the systematic pilfering of Lotsey & Hardy Tire Company and its owner, a Richmond institution. The case, investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, reveals a meticulously planned operation that stretched for over a year.

According to court documents, Cruz began his scheme around January 2022, gaining access to the owner’s personal information. He didn’t just steal a name and address; he hijacked the entire digital and financial life of the business. Cruz took complete control of the shop’s accounting software, bank accounts, email, and even the business phone lines, effectively erasing the owner’s presence. This wasn’t a smash-and-grab; it was a slow, calculated bleed.

Over the next fourteen months, Cruz weaponized the stolen identity. He rerouted incoming calls to his own phone, siphoned funds from the shop’s and owner’s bank accounts directly into his personal accounts, and brazenly secured loans in the victim’s name. The scheme extended beyond virtual theft, with Cruz ordering and collecting auto parts in Los Angeles – all billed to the Richmond auto shop. He even impersonated the owner while placing these orders, adding a layer of audacity to the crime.

The damage inflicted by Cruz’s actions is substantial. The total loss suffered by Lotsey & Hardy Tire Company and its owner now stands at a minimum of $34,514.87. This isn’t just a number; it represents the livelihood of a small business owner and the hard work of the shop’s employees. The Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office, in conjunction with the Central Virginia Financial Crimes Task Force, untangled the complex web of deceit, bringing Cruz to justice.

Cruz is now facing a mandatory minimum of 2 consecutive years in prison for aggravated identity theft. He could receive up to 20 years behind bars for wire fraud. While the maximum penalties are severe, federal sentencing guidelines and other factors will influence the final decision, slated for August 31st. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and Special Agent in Charge Kyo M. Dolan of the U.S. Secret Service announced the guilty plea following the proceedings before Senior U.S. Magistrate Judge Summer L. Speight.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Gibbons and highlights the effectiveness of the Central Virginia Financial Crimes Task Force, a collaborative effort between federal, state, and local agencies. The Task Force, co-chaired by the Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, is dedicated to combating financial crimes targeting institutions throughout the Central Virginia region. Court documents related to the case can be found on the District Court’s website or through PACER (Case No. 3:23-cr-32).

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