Two Brazilian citizens residing in Florida have been sentenced to 40 months each in federal prison for their roles in a scheme to use counterfeit debit and credit cards to purchase merchandise at various retail stores in Maryland and other states.
Lucas Pimenta Diogo Das Gracas, age 23, was sentenced on April 11, 2019, and his co-conspirator, Diogo Miranda Araujo, age 23, was sentenced on April 1, 2019.
The defendants pleaded guilty to the wire fraud conspiracy. Araujo also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft for his role in the scheme in Maryland. Das Gracas also pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeit access devices and aggravated identity theft in connection with a separate case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
The scheme involved the use of large numbers of cloned payment cards and fake Brazilian identification cards in fraudulent retail transactions in Maryland and the surrounding area.
According to Araujo’s plea agreement, in November 2017, he traveled from Florida to Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, where he used a large number of cloned payment cards as well as fake Brazilian identification cards in fraudulent retail transactions.
The defendants were ordered to pay restitution totaling $41,116. Das Gracas was ordered to pay $34,540 and Araujo was ordered to pay $6,576.
The U.S. Secret Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Support Activity Police Department, and Maryland Transportation Authority Police were involved in the investigation and prosecution of the case.
The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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