Jason Ray Bailey, Identity Theft Ring, California 2014

Feds Bust Tijuana-based Identity Theft Ring Stealing Thousands of Dollars from Victims

San Diego, CA - In a shocking case of identity theft, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has busted a Tijuana-based ring that hacked into the computer servers of a major U.S. mortgage broker, stealing personal information and siphoning funds from thousands of victims.

According to charging documents, Jason Ray Bailey, 38, of Chula Vista, CA, and Victor Alejandro Fernandez, 38, of Mammoth Lakes, CA, are part of the conspiracy that hacked into the mortgage broker's computer servers and obtained mortgage applications containing customers' personal identification information.

The stolen information, which included customers' names, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, assets, tax information, and driver's licenses, was used to impersonate the mortgage customers, open credit lines in their names, and steal their assets.

Between December 2012 and June 2013, approximately 4,200 customers had their information stolen, and members of the conspiracy used the stolen information to wire funds from the victims' brokerage accounts to coconspirators' U.S. bank accounts in the San Diego and Calexico areas.

The wires were over $20,000 and $30,000 each, and the conspiracy dates back to July 2011. Bailey's detention hearing was scheduled for March 4, 2014, at 3 p.m., and Fernandez's detention hearing was scheduled for March 6, 2014, at 2:45 p.m.

Both defendants are scheduled for a motion hearing and trial setting conference before U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curial on April 11, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. Bailey and Fernandez are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and computer hacking, with maximum penalties of up to 30 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine, and up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine, respectively.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Defendant: Jason Ray Bailey
Age: 38
City and State: Chula Vista, CA
Crime Date: Between December 2012 and June 2013
Sentence: Up to 30 years in prison and $1,000,000 fine

Defendant: Victor Alejandro Fernandez
Age: 38
City and State: Mammoth Lakes, CA
Crime Date: Between December 2012 and June 2013
Sentence: Up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/feds-bust-tijuana-based-identity-theft-ring