Baltimore, MD – In a stunning blow to the city’s criminal underworld, Kier Hicks, better known as ‘Mouse,’ was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake to 94 months in federal prison for orchestrating an identity theft ring. The scheme, aptly named the “Instant Credit” fraud, saw Hicks and his cronies steal personal information from over 50 victims, resulting in actual losses exceeding $194,674.60.
Hicks, 41, was also ordered to pay restitution totalling $194,674.60 following his conviction on charges of bank fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was jointly announced by U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein and several law enforcement officials from the Secret Service, Baltimore County Police, Maryland State Police, and Howard County Police.
According to court documents, Hicks’ operation spanned from May 8 to August 17, 2012. He sourced compromised identity information over the internet, paying Eastern European countries for this data. He then created counterfeit identification documents, including driver’s licenses and credit cards, using photos of individuals he had recruited or photographed.
Hicks’ co-conspirators, including Ashley Avery and Tyrone Gregg, used these fraudulent documents to open store credit accounts and make purchases up to their credit limits. Hicks would then resell the stolen merchandise at a discount while his cronies pocketed a percentage of the proceeds. The group’s activities resulted in over $400,000 in credit fraud.
In addition to Hicks’ sentence, Gregg was sentenced to 54 months in prison and ordered to pay $139,990.45 in restitution. Avery’s sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2015.
The case underscores the Maryland Identity Theft Working Group’s efforts since 2006 to combat identity theft schemes by fostering cooperation among various law enforcement agencies. Hicks’ sentence sends a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated in the state of Maryland.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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