Paulette Shorter, Credit Card Fraud, Georgia 2015
ATLANTA - In a shocking case of betrayal and greed, two former employees of The Home Depot, Inc. have been sentenced to federal prison for stealing personal identifying information from their fellow employees to submit fraudulent applications for credit cards.
Paulette Shorter, 32, of Orlando, Florida, and Lakisha Grimes, 38, of Conyers, Georgia, used their positions as Human Resources employees in the Atlanta, Georgia headquarters of the Home Depot to access employee databases containing employee names, Social Security numbers, and birth dates.
The defendants used the stolen personal identifying information to apply online for Capital One credit cards in the names of different individuals, including Home Depot employees and job applicants. In total, thirty-two fraudulent Capital One credit card applications were submitted as part of the scheme, and two of the approved credit cards were mailed to Shorter's and Grimes's residences.
The scheme was discovered by Home Depot Corporate Security based on a tip from a Home Depot employee, who reported the identity theft to federal investigators. An investigation by the United States Secret Service revealed the extent of the scheme and led to the arrest and prosecution of Shorter and Grimes.
On November 4, 2015, Shorter was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Steve C. Jones to two years and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and she was ordered to pay $166.90 in restitution to Capital One.
Lakisha Grimes was sentenced on January 16, 2015, by United States District Court Judge Steve C. Jones to two years in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release.
This case serves as a reminder that crimes of identity theft and credit card fraud will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Assistant United States Attorney Nathan P. Kitchens is prosecuting the case.
For further information, please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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