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ATM Skimming Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison
In a major crackdown on identity theft, a group of defendants in an ATM skimming ring was sentenced to federal prison, bringing an end to a scheme that victimized over 5,000 people in Georgia and Florida.
Michael J. Ellis, 36, of Decatur, Ga., was sentenced to eight years and five months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $136,374.31 in restitution, for stealing bank debit card numbers and passwords of individuals in Georgia and Florida through an ATM skimming device.
The ATM skimming devices, which were used at SunTrust automated teller machines in Georgia and Florida, electronically recorded the customer’s debit card number and a small camera in the device video recorded the ATM keyboard as the customer entered his or her password. The defendants then downloaded the information from the device to a computer, re-encoded gift cards with the stolen account information, and used the altered gift cards at ATMs to drain money from the victims’ bank accounts.
Ellis, along with co-defendants Zira M. Bailey and Bryan S. Kees, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Bailey, 27, of Picayune, Miss., was sentenced to five years and five months in federal prison, and Kees, 37, of Savannah, Ga., received seven years in federal prison. Both defendants were also sentenced to three years of supervised release and $136,374.31 in restitution.
The investigation into the ATM skimming ring was led by the United States Secret Service, in conjunction with law enforcement partners, and involved the recovery of over $130,000 in stolen funds. The case serves as a reminder that identity theft is a growing problem that damages the good names and credit of too many innocent people.
The case is a result of a joint investigation by the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The Secret Service obtained a federal search warrant for a package containing illegal skimming devices shipped to the United States from Bulgaria.
The sentencing of Ellis and his co-defendants brings an end to a scheme that affected over 5,000 people in Georgia and Florida. The case highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting against identity theft and the need for law enforcement to continue to combat this insidious crime in all its various forms.
Mandatory Facts:
Defendant: Michael J. Ellis
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft
City and State: Decatur, Georgia
Date: December 28, 2012 (sentencing date)
Sentence or Outcome: Eight years and five months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and $136,374.31 in restitution
Dollar Amounts: $136,374.31 in restitution
Related Cases: Co-defendants Zira M. Bailey and Bryan S. Kees received similar sentences, and a related case involving additional defendants stole over $380,000 from bank customers, affecting over 4,700 victims.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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