BOSTON – A brazen scheme to steal debit card information and drain bank accounts landed a Brazilian national in federal court today. Helisson Benazi de Souza, 38, was sentenced to three years in prison for a meticulously planned ATM skimming operation that hit banks across the Boston area and North Shore. Judge William G. Young also ordered de Souza to serve three years of supervised release and pay $105,880 in restitution to affected victims. Deportation proceedings will begin upon completion of his sentence.
De Souza pleaded guilty in March 2018 to a laundry list of charges, including one count of using counterfeit access devices (debit cards), possessing 15 or more counterfeit access devices, three counts of possessing device-making equipment (ATM skimming devices), illegal transactions with an access device (other persons’ debit cards), and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The operation involved the installation of sophisticated skimming devices designed to look like legitimate card readers, coupled with hidden pinhole cameras to capture PINs as unsuspecting customers made withdrawals.
The scheme wasn’t about quick grabs; it was a calculated effort to clone debit cards. Stolen account information was transferred onto blank plastic cards – everything from gift cards to hotel key cards – creating perfect replicas. In May 2017, de Souza used these cloned cards and the captured PINs to siphon off thousands of dollars from ATMs throughout Metro Boston. The operation was brought to a halt when a bank fraud investigator noticed a flurry of suspicious withdrawals from compromised accounts at three ATMs in Lynn.
Law enforcement quickly zeroed in on de Souza after reviewing surveillance footage from banks in Malden and Saugus. The video clearly showed a man installing and removing the skimming devices and pinhole cameras. A search of de Souza’s vehicle turned up a damning cache: thousands of dollars in cash, all in $20 bills, and over 200 gift and hotel cards adorned with small stickers. De Souza confessed that these stickers contained the PINs of the cardholders whose accounts he had compromised.
“This sentencing sends a clear message that we will not tolerate those who prey on innocent citizens through sophisticated financial crimes,” stated United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, and Lynn Police Chief Michael A. Mageary joined in the announcement, highlighting the collaborative effort that brought de Souza to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers, of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case.
The case underscores the ongoing threat of ATM skimming and the importance of vigilance for both banks and consumers. While banks continue to upgrade security measures, customers are urged to inspect ATMs for any signs of tampering before inserting their cards and to shield the keypad when entering their PINs. The investigation serves as a reminder that even seemingly small details can expose vulnerabilities in the financial system, and that those who exploit them will face the full force of the law.
Related Federal Cases
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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