PORTLAND, ME – Jose Castillo Febles, 31, of Doral, Florida, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 32 months for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Chief Judge Nancy Torresen handed down the sentence today in U.S. District Court, adding three years of supervised release to the term and ordering Febles to pay over $25,000 in restitution to his victims.
The scheme, according to court records, ran from approximately November 2015 through June 2016. Febles and his crew weren’t shy about their reach, using stolen credit and debit card numbers to fund a shopping spree. The operation took them as far north as Maine in May 2016, where Febles personally racked up over $500 in fraudulent purchases at a Portland Walgreens using a stolen card belonging to an Auburn resident.
Their brazen activity caught the attention of Walgreens personnel on June 15, 2016, after co-conspirators Yaisder Herrera Gargallo and Meylisi Rueda used another stolen card. Store staff alerted police and provided a license plate number. Just three days later, a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled over a vehicle matching the description. Inside were Febles, Gargallo, and Rueda, along with a haul of stolen merchandise, numerous fake credit cards, and a laptop brimming with stolen financial data.
This wasn’t a small-time operation. Gargallo already received a 40-month sentence in November 2017, and another accomplice, Juan Carlos Febles, was sentenced to 34 months in January 2018. Rueda has pleaded guilty and is currently awaiting her own sentencing. The feds are clearly coming down hard on this crew, and this sentencing sends a message that interstate fraud won’t be tolerated.
The investigation was a joint effort, bringing together the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Portland Police Department, and the U.S. Secret Service. While the Secret Service is often associated with protecting dignitaries, they also play a critical role in combating financial crimes like this one, tracking down the criminals who profit from stolen identities and fraudulent transactions.
Febles’s case is a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of credit card fraud and identity theft. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Halsey B. Frank, continues to prioritize these cases, aiming to hold perpetrators accountable and recover funds for victims. The Department of Justice District of Maine has made it clear: stealing isn’t a victimless crime, and it carries significant consequences.
Related Federal Cases
- John Doe, Credit Card Fraud, Florida 2022 · Maine
- Steven Nygren, Bank and Credit Card Fraud, Tax Evasion, Maine 2014-2016 · Maine
- Yang-Shi Lin, Credit Card Scam, NY 2024 · Maine
- Jermaine Winters, Tax Refund Fraud and Identity Theft, Chipley FL, … · Maine
- Wifredo A. Ferrer, VA Travel Reimbursement Fraud, Miami FL, 2023 · Kentucky
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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