GULFPORT, MS – A Mississippi highway bust led to a guilty plea this week in a large-scale gift card fraud scheme. Duniesky Vizcay De La Cruz, an illegal alien, admitted to possessing nearly $90,000 worth of fraudulently obtained prepaid gift cards, according to federal prosecutors.
The haul – 528 “Vanilla MasterCard” gift cards – was discovered during a routine traffic stop on Interstate I-10 in Jackson County on December 6, 2017, conducted by the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Task Force. Agents found the cards stashed in Vizcay De La Cruz’s luggage. The cards weren’t obtained legally; they were purchased using money stolen from unsuspecting victims.
Investigators quickly traced the purchases back to wholesale club stores in Georgia and Florida, revealing the cards were bought just days before the traffic stop. The total value of the fraudulent cards topped $89,900. Vizcay De La Cruz was formally charged on March 5, 2019, via a federal criminal indictment, bringing the full weight of the U.S. Justice system down on him.
On August 21, 2019, Vizcay De La Cruz appeared before Judge Ozerden and entered a guilty plea. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones, successfully prosecuted the case, building a solid argument based on the evidence gathered by the United States Secret Service and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Task Force.
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 21, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. in Gulfport. Vizcay De La Cruz now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a hefty $250,000 fine. The Secret Service, tasked with protecting the nation’s financial infrastructure, is sending a clear message: this kind of fraud will not be tolerated.
While authorities haven’t detailed the specifics of *how* the initial fraudulent funds were obtained, the sheer volume of cards points to a sophisticated operation. This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of prepaid gift cards to criminal exploitation and the importance of vigilance for both retailers and consumers. The Southern District of Mississippi will continue to prosecute those who attempt to exploit the financial system.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
