GULFPORT, MS – A brazen ATM skimming operation targeting Keesler Federal Credit Union customers has landed three Florida residents in federal court, with guilty pleas entered yesterday. Claudio Fontes Ferreira, 30, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, Rodrigo D. Ferrareze, 37, of Delray Beach, Florida, and Taise Braganca Moscon, 26, of Pompano, Florida, all admitted to access device fraud before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, according to U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Thomas M. Annello, Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans.
The scheme unraveled on December 7, 2017, when the trio was stopped while driving a Lincoln Navigator with Florida plates after hitting an ATM on Automall Parkway in D’Iberville, Mississippi. Authorities discovered a sophisticated skimming device attached to the Keesler Federal Credit Union ATM. The machine had been tampered with – the privacy shield over the keypad was deliberately cut away, creating a clear line of sight for a hidden camera recording customers entering their PINs.
A subsequent search of the Navigator revealed a veritable toolkit for identity theft. Investigators seized glue, electrical tape, double-sided tape, and box cutters alongside a cache of credit cards issued under false names. A particularly disturbing find was a credit card affixed with sandpaper, presumably to further compromise ATM card readers. The vehicle also contained numerous other credit cards, gift cards, and a micro SD card – likely filled with stolen data.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents pieced together the operation, uncovering evidence of a coordinated effort to steal financial information from unsuspecting customers. The skimmers, when installed, would capture card numbers and PINs, allowing the suspects to create fraudulent cards and drain victims’ accounts. The level of preparation suggests this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment crime, but a carefully planned operation.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on Wednesday, June 6, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. Each faces a stiff penalty for their crimes: a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a potential fine of $250,000. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of financial fraud and the importance of vigilance when using ATMs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the evidence gathered by HSI agents. The investigation highlights the critical role federal agencies play in combating financial crimes that cross state lines and protecting consumers from identity theft. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing as it occurs.
RELATED: Florida Trio Busted in $20M Workers’ Comp & Alien Labor Scam
RELATED: Tampa Mom & Sons Nabbed in $221K Tax Fraud
Related Federal Cases
- Florida Man Sentenced for ATM Skimmer Fraud · Mississippi
- ‘White Boi’ Nabbed in $10M Treasury Check Scam · Mississippi
- Destin Duo Sentenced in $350K Drug & Money Scheme · Mississippi
- Minnesota Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession in Mississippi · Mississippi
- Montgomery Brothers Sentenced for Check Fraud Scheme · Mississippi
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News