Derrick Courtney Franklin, II, Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Idaho 2016

A California man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in Idaho, authorities announced.

According to court proceedings, Derrick Courtney Franklin, II, 28, of Los Angeles, California, agreed to travel to Idaho for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded and embossed onto stock debit and credit cards.

Franklin and his co-conspirator, Jassmine Pettaway, 27, of Inglewood, California, made at least eight fraudulent purchases from at least four different retail stores, in the amount of at least $20,225.86.

Two of those purchases were made at the Nike Factory Store in Meridian for a total of $18,204.54.

Law enforcement recovered a fake Michigan driver’s license, at least 19 counterfeit credit cards, and at least 45 gift cards.

Pettaway pleaded guilty on April 5, 2016, to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2016.

Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to 3 years of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.

Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, and a fine up to $250,000.

Sentencing for Franklin is set for October 18, 2016, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Boise.

The case was investigated by the Meridian Police Department, the Boise Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS).

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-id/pr/california-man-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-and-aggravated-identity-theft