Kareem Patrick Campbell, Wire Fraud, Florida 2015

Tampa, Florida - In a brazen case of financial deception, 19-year-old Kareem Patrick Campbell has been sentenced to time served for his role in a 'force posting' scheme that swindled merchants out of $227,375.85.

According to court documents, between April 2015 and August 2015, Campbell and his co-conspirators targeted jewelry stores, car accessory retailers, and hotels across Florida and North Carolina. The scheme involved providing fake bank authorization codes to merchants, allowing the group to purchase items using canceled debit cards.

Campbell would present a canceled debit card to a merchant, only to call a co-conspirator who would pose as a bank customer service employee. The co-conspirator would then provide a fake authorization code, allowing the merchant to override the credit card processing machine's denial of the debit card.

As a result of the scheme, the conspirators were able to successfully purchase jewelry and other items worth at least $227,375.85. Campbell pleaded guilty on May 4, 2016, and has been incarcerated since his arrest on related state charges on August 13, 2015.

On May 11, 2016, a grand jury in the Middle District of Florida returned an 11-count indictment charging one of Campbell's co-conspirators, Rajiv Edwards, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Edwards remains at large.

The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Tampa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Megan K. Kistler is prosecuting the case.

Campbell was sentenced to time served, approximately 13 months in prison. The Court also entered a money judgment in the amount of $227,375.85, the proceeds of the wire fraud conspiracy. Campbell was ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his offense.

A grand jury in the Middle District of Florida returned an 11-count indictment charging one of Campbell's co-conspirators, Rajiv Edwards, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Edwards remains at large.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/fraudster-sentenced-force-posting-scheme