HOUSTON, TX – Edward Toliver, 47, a New Orleans native operating in Houston, is headed back to federal prison after being sentenced to 124 months for masterminding a sprawling credit card fraud operation. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on April 29, 2021, comes with three years of supervised release upon completion of his term, and a mandatory $200 assessment fee. This isn’t Toliver’s first rodeo; it’s his third federal conviction for credit card fraud, and he was actively breaking the law while still on probation from a previous sentence.
The scheme, which operated out of an office park in Houston, was a sophisticated operation involving the creation of tens of thousands of fraudulent credit cards. According to court records, Toliver and his accomplice, Maurice Durio, built a card manufacturing plant, sourcing stolen credit card numbers from a disturbing variety of sources. These included a hacker Toliver met during a previous prison stint and, more chillingly, from purchases made on the dark web. The pair didn’t just obtain the numbers – they turned them into usable, counterfeit cards.
The process involved downloading templates and transferring stolen data onto them, then using high-end printers and embossers to create seemingly legitimate cards. A particularly brazen aspect of the scheme was the use of co-conspirator’s names on the cards, masking the true identity of the account holders whose information had been stolen. These fraudulent “access devices” were then distributed to a network of individuals who used them to purchase merchandise and gift cards, effectively laundering the stolen funds. The scale was massive, with agents seizing thousands of cards during the investigation.
The U.S. Secret Service, alongside local law enforcement, began to unravel the operation after numerous individuals were caught using cards traced back to the Houston facility. A 2014 raid on the office park yielded a treasure trove of evidence: device-making equipment, thousands of fraudulent cards, and multiple laptops. One laptop contained approximately 80,000 card numbers, while others held an additional 300,000. Spreadsheets detailed how the stolen data was processed and transferred to the counterfeit cards, a clear roadmap of the criminal enterprise.
Toliver and Durio weren’t simply manufacturers; they were actively involved in monetizing the fraud. They employed several methods, including outright selling the cards to buyers, allowing them to pocket whatever they could purchase. They also engaged in a consignment-like arrangement, providing cards to individuals who would purchase merchandise and then resell it for a cut of the profits. This created a complex web of co-conspirators, all benefiting from the stolen identities and financial ruin of others.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the sentencing, highlighting the severity of the crime and the repeat nature of Toliver’s offenses. While this conviction may temporarily disrupt the operation, the ease with which stolen credit card numbers can be obtained and the profitability of the scheme suggest that similar operations will continue to emerge. The Secret Service will continue to investigate and prosecute these crimes, but the dark web remains a fertile breeding ground for fraud, and law enforcement faces a constant uphill battle.
Related Federal Cases
- James Pavlounis, Social Security Administration Fraud and Tax Evasi… · Texas
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Miami FL, 2023 · Mississippi
- Enrique Acevedo Barocio, Drunk Driving Fatalities, Houston TX, 2024 · Maryland
- Free Money Gang Members Face Justice, Houston TX, 2023 · Virginia
- John Q. Smith, $50M Fraud Ring, Washington DC, 2025 · New Mexico
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
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News