A New Orleans man who once served meals is now serving up a guilty plea in a high-tech grift that ripped off diners while they ate. Ryan Claverie, 37, of New Orleans, admitted in federal court today to conspiracy to commit access device fraud, capping a scheme that turned his role as a Metairie restaurant waiter into a criminal enterprise.
Claverie, armed with nothing more than a job behind the counter and a hidden digital weapon, used a credit card skimmer to harvest sensitive financial data from unsuspecting patrons. Every swipe of a card at the restaurant gave Claverie access — and he exploited it. The skimmer, a small but dangerous device, captured account information from the magnetic strips of credit and debit cards, storing it for later use in a cold, calculated theft operation.
With the stolen data downloaded to a computer, Claverie and his co-conspirators manufactured counterfeit cards, cloning real accounts to drain value from victims without their knowledge. These fake cards were then used across the metropolitan New Orleans area — at retail stores, gas stations, and other establishments — to fraudulently obtain cash and goods for personal gain, feeding a cycle of deceit rooted in everyday transactions.
The scheme, though low-profile in execution, struck at the heart of consumer trust. Diners handed over payment in good faith, never suspecting the man clearing their plates was also clearing their accounts. The betrayal wasn’t violent, but it was invasive — a digital pickpocketing enabled by proximity and access, turning hospitality into highway robbery.
Now, Claverie faces the consequences: a maximum of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo scheduled sentencing for May 4, 2017, giving Claverie time to stew over the fallout from his greed. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Loan “Mimi” Nguyen.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort, with the U.S. Secret Service, New Orleans Field Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Kenner Police Department all playing key roles. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite commended their collaboration, calling the takedown a win for financial integrity in South Louisiana — a region where crime often wears a friendly face.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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