Danisha Thomas, Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Maryland 2023

Baltimore Woman Pleads Guilty to Cell Phone Scam

Baltimore, MD – Danisha Thomas, a 39-year-old woman from Bladensburg, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, related to a scheme to receive and sell cell phones that were fraudulently obtained using the identifying information of at least 24 victims.

According to her guilty plea and court documents, between July 2019 and March 2020, Thomas was part of a conspiracy to obtain new cell phones by opening new cell phone service accounts or upgrading existing accounts in the names of individual identity theft victims without the victims’ knowledge or permission, then selling the cell phones to others for a profit.

Thomas’ co-defendants, Chantelle Harris and Robert Patterson, were employed by a third-party vendor contracted to handle wireless phone transactions, including sales and phone upgrades for Walmart. Harris and Patterson admitted to abusing their positions by conducting fraudulent transactions in furtherance of the scheme and for Thomas’ benefit.

The total value of the fraudulently obtained cell phones was approximately $537,000, according to Thomas’ guilty plea. She faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft.

U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Thomas on September 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Harris was sentenced to time served, and Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant United States Attorney Colleen E. McGuinn, who is prosecuting the case.

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