GREENBELT, MD – Ricardo Carter II, 38, of Camp Springs, Maryland, is trading his security supervisor badge for an orange jumpsuit after being sentenced to 87 months in federal prison today. Judge Peter J. Messitte slapped Carter with the hefty sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, for a brazen bank fraud and aggravated identity theft scheme that drained over $119,000 from victim financial institutions.
Carter wasn’t some fly-by-night operator. From January 2015 to December 2017, he meticulously pilfered the personal information – names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers – of coworkers and job applicants at Company A, where he held a position of trust. He then used this stolen data to open fraudulent bank and credit accounts across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. This wasn’t just about opening accounts; it was a calculated, multi-jurisdictional operation.
The scheme revolved around “check kiting” and fraudulent credit card spending. Carter would deposit worthless checks into the newly opened accounts, immediately withdrawing the funds in cash or transferring them before the checks bounced. When he opened credit accounts, he simply ran up charges for his own personal expenses, leaving the banks to absorb the losses and the victims’ credit scores in ruins. Court documents reveal Carter opened over 100 fraudulent accounts using more than 10 stolen identities, netting at least $119,733.94.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron, and Matthew R. Stohler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service – Washington Field Office, announced the sentence, highlighting the abuse of Carter’s position. He didn’t just steal identities; he exploited the trust placed in him as a security supervisor to facilitate the fraud. Judge Messitte also ordered Carter to forfeit $119,733.94 and pay restitution totaling $131,588.24 to cover the full extent of the victims’ losses.
Carter’s problems didn’t end with the initial indictment in September 2019. Released on pre-trial conditions in July 2020, he immediately violated them. In October 2020, he applied for an apartment in Largo, Maryland, using a false employer – Company A – and another stolen Social Security number. He submitted forged letters and pay stubs to sweeten the deal, but the fraud unraveled when Company A confirmed the documents were fake in March 2021 after the landlord inquired.
This case underscores how easily positions of trust can be exploited for personal gain and the far-reaching consequences of identity theft. Carter’s seven-plus year sentence sends a clear message: stealing identities and defrauding financial institutions won’t be tolerated. The Secret Service continues to investigate and prosecute these types of crimes, protecting both financial institutions and vulnerable individuals from predatory fraudsters like Ricardo Carter II.
Related Federal Cases
- Markis J. Dickerson, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, VA 2024 · North Carolina
- Mehul Khatiwala, Bank Fraud Scheme, NJ 2024 · Tennessee
- Mateus Vaduva, Bank and Wire Fraud, MD 2021 · Tennessee
- Vanetra Brown, Stolen ID Bank Fraud, Maryland 2024 · Maryland
- JJaymark Larios, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, NY 2024 · West Virginia
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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