MINNEAPOLIS—Two Minnesota men, Jerome Davis, Jr. and Jemall Ronta Williams, have pleaded guilty to their roles in a large, multi-state identity theft ring.
Jerome Davis, Jr., 44, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Davis admitted that from 2010 through 2011, he was part of a conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He recruited individuals to conduct fraudulent transactions at financial institutions and retail establishments, providing them with fraudulent identification documents and counterfeit checks.
According to the indictment, members of the conspiracy obtained victims’ personal information from various sources, including mail theft, vehicle break-ins, burglaries, and from individuals who stole the information from their places of employment. The victim information was used to create false identification documents, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards, along with counterfeit checks.
The counterfeit checks were used to purchase expensive items and gift cards at retail stores, which were later returned for cash. The victim information was also used to open bank accounts and access the existing bank accounts of others. Co-conspirators deposited counterfeit checks into the accounts of unknowing individuals, only to withdraw funds from those same accounts a short time later.
Jemall Ronta Williams, 38, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. In his plea agreement, Williams admitted that he joined the conspiracy in 2009 and obtained victim information from a co-conspirator who worked at Wells Fargo. Williams admitted to providing the stolen information to others who used it to create false and fictitious identification documents to pass counterfeit checks.
For their crimes, Davis and Williams each face a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and a mandatory minimum consecutive penalty of two years in prison for identity theft. They are responsible for approximately $170,389 and $40,000 in fraudulent transactions, respectively.
A trial is scheduled for April 1, 2013, for the three others who were indicted with Davis and Williams. In September 2012, four men were convicted for their roles in this identity theft ring. Twenty-four other co-conspirators have already entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.
The cases resulted from an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen B. Schommer.
Related Federal Cases
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- Nicholaus Tripp, Attempted Minor Enticement, SD 2016 · South Dakota
- Maxim Senakh, Botnet Exploitation, MN 2024 · Minnesota
Key Facts
- State: Minnesota
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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