BOSTON – A decade-old ATM skimming operation targeting tourists and residents of Martha’s Vineyard has finally seen a conviction. Georgi Kanev, 33, a Bulgarian national, pleaded guilty today to federal charges stemming from the scheme, which saw the installation of devices to steal ATM card data and PINs.
According to court documents, Kanev and an unnamed co-conspirator spent roughly four weeks in July and August of 2013 rigging two Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank ATMs with skimmers – devices that illegally copy magnetic strip information – and tiny cameras to capture unsuspecting customers’ PIN numbers. The pilfered data was then used to create counterfeit ATM cards, allowing the pair to withdraw funds directly from compromised bank accounts.
The scheme wasn’t sophisticated, but it was effective. For weeks, Kanev and his accomplice quietly siphoned funds from victims, leaving a trail of financial ruin in their wake. While the initial impact occurred a decade ago, the investigation remained active, culminating in Kanev’s guilty plea to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has been tight-lipped about the ongoing search for the co-conspirator.
Kanev now faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud carries a maximum penalty of 90 months – seven and a half years – in federal prison, along with three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Adding to that, the aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, plus another year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Frederick J. Regan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, announced the guilty plea. Local law enforcement, including the Edgartown and Oak Bluffs Police Departments, provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is handling the prosecution.
While Kanev’s plea brings a measure of closure to this case, authorities are quick to remind the public that the information contained in the charging documents represents allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Sentencing for Kanev is scheduled for May 26, 2021, before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin, where the full extent of his punishment will be determined.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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