Charlotte Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Identity Theft Crimes
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison for his role in a brazen identity theft scheme that netted him over $50,000 in stolen goods and cash.
Jonquease Lydell Walker, 24, pleaded guilty in September 2011 to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Frank D. Whitney on Monday, April 8, 2013.
According to court documents, Walker engaged in the identity theft scheme from 2008 through 2011, using the personally identifiable information (PII) of six victims to fraudulently purchase goods and obtain cash. Walker used the PII to convince credit card issuers that he was the legitimate account holder, and then caused the issuers to issue duplicate credit cards or add him to the account as an authorized user.
Walker’s scheme netted him over $50,000 in stolen goods and cash, and he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $48,736. He will also serve five years under court supervision following his prison term.
The investigation was handled by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with assistance from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom O’Malley prosecuted the case.
If you believe your personal information has been compromised, there are numerous resources available online to help you protect yourself against identity theft. You can find a detailed list of resources from 11 federal agencies at http://idtheft.gov/takeaction.html, or visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft for additional guidance.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department urge anyone with information about identity theft to come forward and report it. You can also contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or visit their website at http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors for more information.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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