Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury has convicted James Stewart and Vincent Grant for their roles in a sophisticated wire fraud scheme that targeted stolen credit card information. Stewart, 27, of District Heights, and Grant, 28, of Laurel, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
From July 2014 to May 2015, the duo utilized digital currency Bitcoin to purchase stolen credit and debit card numbers from international websites. They then employed card-encoding devices and software to recreate the cards with fraudulent information. Using these compromised cards, they purchased luxury goods and gift cards at military exchange stores and other locations in Maryland.
Former sergeant Quentin Stewart of the District of Columbia Army National Guard also faced charges, while Derrick Shelton and Jamal Moody had previously pleaded guilty for their involvement in the scheme.
Stewart and Grant face up to 20 years in prison on wire fraud charges, with Grant facing an additional seven and a half years for access device fraud. Both will serve at least two years for aggravated identity theft.
The Maryland Identity Theft Working Group has been instrumental in fostering cooperation among law enforcement agencies to combat identity theft schemes like this one. The group’s efforts are part of the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which has significantly boosted the investigation and prosecution of financial crimes across the country.
This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the dedication of federal and local authorities to protect citizens from identity theft and ensure justice for those who commit fraud.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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