Derrick Nathaniel Hartfield, Wire Fraud, Louisiana 2013

LAFAYETTE, La. – Derrick Nathaniel Hartfield, 46, of Smyrna, Ga., was sentenced to prison and fined for his role in a gift card scheme that defrauded Wal-Mart and other retail businesses nationwide.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hartfield pleaded guilty on May 13, 2013, to defrauding Wal-Mart and other retail businesses nationwide out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through identity theft and wire fraud.

Hartfield was sentenced to 60 months in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine for wire fraud. He was also sentenced to 24 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine for aggravated identity theft. The two prison terms will be served consecutively and the supervised release will be served concurrently.

Hartfield and his accomplice, Rico Carty Clemons, admitted to using illegally obtained retail store gift cards and applying for credit/debit cards using other people’s identities. Hartfield acknowledged that he may have obtained approximately $1 million since 2005 as a result of the scheme.

On July 7, 2012, a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy apprehended Hartfield in a Lake Charles Wal-Mart store. The officer then identified Clemons, who was in a parked vehicle outside. The two men were in possession of $2,000 and numerous debit and credit cards that were not in their names.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett L. Grayson prosecuted the case.

Hartfield and Clemons were ordered to pay $14,869 in restitution. The scheme, which involved the use of gift cards and identity theft, resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for Wal-Mart and other retail businesses nationwide.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identity and financial information. Individuals are advised to be vigilant when it comes to their financial accounts and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

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