Jaysha Victorian Sentenced for $8M Debit Card Fraud

HOUSTON – Jaysha Victorian, a 23-year-old Houston woman, has been handed down an 18-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud after participating in a $8 million debit card scheme that involved loading fraudulent funds onto prepaid cards.

Victorian pleaded guilty on April 3, and U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen ordered her to serve the prison term immediately followed by three years of supervised release. During the hearing, details emerged about how Victorian, who worked for a bank contractor between late 2020 and early 2021, managed to commit millions in fraud within weeks.

Victorian credited at least 187 cards with nearly $8.6 million in fraudulent funds, including unemployment benefits from California. Recipients managed to withdraw or spend over $7.6 million before the bank was able to freeze the cards. She confessed to using some of the proceeds for her own benefit, including a $1,000 ATM withdrawal in Houston, and received approximately $300,000 in cash proceeds.

Victorian was allowed to remain on bond until she voluntarily surrenders to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility that will be determined shortly. The investigation into the scheme was conducted by the FBI, Houston Police Department, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General’s Covid Fraud Unit, and Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Karen Lansden were responsible for prosecuting the case.

The sentence sends a stark message about the lengths some individuals will go to exploit the financial system during times of crisis, highlighting the need for continued vigilance against such schemes.

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