Data Thief Wiley Admits to Credit Card Scheme

CONCORD, NH – David Wiley, 53, of Georgia, has confessed to peddling stolen credit card data, admitting guilt to federal charges of access device fraud. The plea, entered in federal court today, reveals a calculated scheme to profit from the compromised financial information of hundreds of unsuspecting Americans.

The case, cracked by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, centers around a February 16, 2022, phone call Wiley had with a law enforcement cooperator. According to court documents, Wiley brazenly offered to sell stolen data – a treasure trove of victims’ names, complete credit card numbers, expiration dates, and the critical CVV codes needed to make fraudulent purchases. He didn’t shy away from discussing pricing or the logistics of transferring the illicit goods.

Over the following weeks, a digital back-and-forth ensued, with Wiley and the cooperator exchanging text messages about the transfer of ‘sample’ data, a clear indication of a larger operation. The scheme escalated on March 8, 2022, when Wiley uploaded a password-protected spreadsheet containing the sensitive information of 200 victims to a secure File Transfer Protocol (FTP) website. He then, with chilling efficiency, emailed the password to unlock the stolen data to the cooperator.

The spreadsheet wasn’t just a list of numbers; it was a comprehensive profile of each victim, including their names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers – a complete package for identity theft and financial ruin. Wiley’s actions represent a callous disregard for the financial well-being of those whose data he so casually traded.

United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced the guilty plea, signaling a victory for federal investigators battling the ever-growing tide of cybercrime. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Matthew T. Hunter are prosecuting the case, aiming to ensure Wiley faces significant consequences for his actions.

Wiley is now scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2023. The length of that sentence remains to be seen, but federal prosecutors will undoubtedly argue for a substantial penalty, reflecting the scope and severity of Wiley’s criminal enterprise. This case serves as a stark reminder that the digital underworld has real-world victims, and those who exploit stolen data will be brought to justice.