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Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft
BUFFALO, N.Y. – A Knoxville, Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, a federal crime that can land him two years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Omoruyi Ogbeide, 46, of Knoxville, Tennessee, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to the charge, which was announced Tuesday by U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr.
According to prosecutors, Ogbeide was arrested in May 2012 by Amherst Police for patronizing a prostitute. During the arrest, officers found multiple credit cards in the names of unknown individuals on him. A subsequent search of his hotel room turned up additional fraudulent credit cards and equipment used to make them.
Prosecutors also claimed that a computer containing stolen identifying information, including names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of numerous individuals, was found in Ogbeide’s hotel room. The information was allegedly used to produce the fraudulent credit cards.
The investigation that led to Ogbeide’s guilty plea was a joint effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Amherst Police Department. Special Agent in Charge Tracy Gast led the Secret Service’s investigation, while Amherst Police Chief John Askey oversaw his department’s probe.
Ogbeide’s sentencing is scheduled for November 20, 2013, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. He faces a mandatory penalty of two years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.
The guilty plea serves as a reminder of the dangers of identity theft and the importance of protecting personal information. It also highlights the need for law enforcement agencies to work together to combat this type of crime.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Hochul praised the efforts of the Secret Service and Amherst Police, saying that their work had helped to bring a ‘significant identity theft operation’ to an end.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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