JACKSONVILLE, FL – A Texas man already facing time for a previous fraud conviction is now looking at up to two decades in federal prison after pleading guilty to credit card fraud. Jose Carlos Terra Izquierdo, 23, of Amarillo, TX, admitted to the scheme, a move that triggered an enhanced penalty due to his prior criminal history.
The case began unraveling in March of 2017 when Izquierdo, a fugitive from Nebraska, was pulled over by the Florida Highway Patrol in Columbia County for an expired Texas vehicle tag. Troopers weren’t just dealing with a traffic violation. A search of his vehicle revealed a sophisticated credit card reader and stolen credit card information belonging to over 50 victims – a mobile command center for identity theft.
This wasn’t Izquierdo’s first rodeo. Court records show he was already convicted of credit card fraud in the District of Nebraska back in 2016. He was supposed to surrender himself to begin serving his sentence in March 2017, but instead went on the run, violating the terms of his release and prompting Nebraska authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest. The Florida traffic stop brought his flight to a screeching halt.
The U.S. Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office joined the Florida Highway Patrol in the investigation, piecing together the scope of Izquierdo’s operation. The evidence pointed to a widespread scheme targeting numerous individuals, and the stolen data recovered from his vehicle confirmed the extent of the damage. Investigators believe Izquierdo was actively exploiting stolen card data at the time of his arrest.
As part of his guilty plea, Izquierdo has agreed to forfeit the computer media used in the fraud and to pay restitution to the victims whose information he stole. While a sentencing date has not yet been set, Izquierdo faces a significantly harsher penalty than he would have if this were his first offense. The enhanced penalty could land him behind bars for up to 20 years.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein is prosecuting the case, brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Secret Service and Florida Highway Patrol demonstrated effective interagency cooperation in bringing Izquierdo to justice, sending a clear message that financial crimes will be aggressively pursued, regardless of state lines. The Department of Justice, Middle District of Florida, handled the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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