Kahwahnas Nucumbhi Potts, 38, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, stood in federal court today and admitted to stealing identities and draining bank accounts through brazen credit card fraud. Potts pled guilty to aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud, capping a years-long crime spree that targeted unsuspecting West Michigan residents through mail theft and ATM raids. He remains in federal custody as he awaits sentencing.
The scheme began in March 2015 and ran through April 2016, during which Potts rifled through mailboxes across West Michigan, harvesting names, dates of birth, and social security numbers. He used that stolen data to submit fraudulent credit card applications online. To hide his digital trail, Potts accessed wireless internet from a local business using his cell phone and directed credit card issuers to send the cards to a fake address.
In December 2015, Potts escalated his crimes by breaking into a home on the southeast side of Grand Rapids. He stole a credit card and used the homeowner’s social security number and date of birth to activate it. Over the next two months, he withdrew more than $16,000 from ATMs, disguising his appearance with a mask, gloves, and a stolen license plate on his vehicle.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge condemned the breach of trust and privacy, stating, “Identity theft crime often causes serious and permanent damage to the credit history and financial lives of its victims.” He emphasized the federal commitment to prosecuting those who exploit personal data, particularly when U.S. mail is weaponized in the process.
Potts now faces up to 10 years in prison for the credit card fraud charge and a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years for each count of aggravated identity theft. The sentencing hearing, set for approximately 3 to 4 months from now in Grand Rapids federal court, will also determine the full scope of restitution owed to his victims.
The investigation was led by the Grand Rapids Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, working alongside the Grand Rapids Police Department’s Metropolitan Fraud and Identity Theft Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella is prosecuting the case, underscoring the coordinated push to dismantle identity theft networks operating in West Michigan.
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Key Facts
- State: Michigan
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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