FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA – Quinae Shamyra Stephens, 41, of Douglasville, Georgia, is facing nearly two decades behind bars after a jury convicted her of orchestrating a sprawling multi-state fraud and identity theft operation with her son. Stephens received a sentence exceeding 18 years in federal prison, a harsh penalty reflecting the brazen nature of the scheme and her extensive criminal history.
The investigation revealed that Stephens, a four-time convicted felon, enlisted her son, Deandre Copes, 23, also of Douglasville, in a criminal road trip across the East Coast. Starting sometime before late August 2021, after ditching a stolen U-Haul van hundreds of miles from its destination, the pair embarked on a journey fueled by stolen identities and a hunger for illicit gain. Stephens, already on probation for prior fraud offenses, was armed with a loaded semi-automatic handgun during the operation.
Their mobile command center was a second stolen U-Haul, packed with fraudulently obtained identification documents – including multiple IDs bearing Stephens’s picture under assumed names – a credit card re-encoding device, and over 25 debit and credit cards belonging to unsuspecting victims. Stephens wasn’t just skimming the surface; investigators found she actively sought out criminal instruction on the dark web, downloading guides on credit card fraud, identity theft, and even techniques for creating fake banking websites designed to steal account information.
The scheme came crashing down in Latta, South Carolina, when Stephens’s suspicious behavior near a bank attracted the attention of the Latta Police Department. A search of the vehicle uncovered the damning evidence, triggering a full-scale investigation by the U.S. Secret Service. “Identity theft is a threat to every citizen, and the personal information of its victims can live on the dark web forever,” stated U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “This nearly two-decade sentence showcases just how seriously we take these crimes.”
Stephens was convicted on multiple counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; identity theft; aggravated identity theft; access device fraud; interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle; and being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition. John Hirt, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbia Field Office for the U.S. Secret Service, lauded the collaborative effort between local and federal agencies. “This case originated due to great police work by the Latta Police Department,” Hirt said. “The sentence exemplifies that the U.S. Government takes the crime of identity theft seriously.”
The case serves as a stark warning: exploiting stolen identities for financial gain will not be tolerated, and those who prey on innocent citizens, especially repeat offenders like Stephens, will face severe consequences. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Secret Service vow to continue pursuing these types of crimes with unwavering dedication, ensuring that those who engage in such activities are brought to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Kelvin Lyles, Synthetic Identity Wire Fraud, GA 2023 · South Carolina
- Ronald Dwaine Carnes, Identity Theft and Firearm Possession, Iowa 2023 · South Carolina
- Cody C. Halsey, Wire Fraud, OR 2016 · Oregon
- Ronald Lewis Hooper, Health Care Fraud, VA 2024 · South Carolina
- Dalvin Michael Davenport Jr, Access Device Fraud Conspiracy, SC 2017 · South Carolina
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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