Source: United States Department of Justice News
INDIANAPOLIS – Seven individuals have been sentenced for conspiracy to commit access device fraud, with some also being sentenced for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The defendants had previously been indicated on their charges beginning in 2018.
According to court documents, the defendants were part of a conspiracy with at least two goals: to traffic in and use counterfeit identification documents, including driver’s licenses and tobacco licenses, as well to traffic in and use stolen credit cards and large amounts of cash – all to purchase cigarettes in bulk, electronics, and other items from Sam’s Club stores and other retail stores around the country. The conspiracy began at least as early as January 2017 and continued through September 2018, with defendants Nfa Doumbouya, Ibrahima Diallo, Souleymane Camara, Betsy DeGracia, and Anderson Tejada Rossis traveling to different locations within the United States to use stolen credit cards to buy these items. The losses caused by the conspiracy totaled over $3 million.
Some defendants used counterfeit state-issued documents to open Sam’s Club memberships in names that were not their own – which enabled them to purchase cigarettes in bulk. At least one defendant, Michel Lamah, worked in an Indianapolis credit card processing facility, and provided stolen credit cards to codefendants. After purchase, some of the defendants arranged to store and ship the items bought with stolen credit cards to other locations.
The defendants pleaded guilty and were each sentenced by U. S. District Judge James Patrick Hanlon as follows:
|
Defendant |
Sentence |
Charge(s) |
|
Nfa Saidou Doumbouya, 37, Atlanta, GA |
Over 5 years in federal prison 2 years’ supervised release |
Conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft |
|
Ibrahima Diallo, 36, Atlanta, GA |
Over 5 years in federal prison 2 years’ supervised release |
Conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft |
|
Souleymane Camara, 35, Indianapolis, IN |
Over 7 years in federal prison 2 years’ supervised release |
Conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft |
|
Mamadou Magane, 32, Atlanta, GA |
Time served 3 years’ supervised release |
Conspiracy |
|
Betsy Marie DeGracia, |
Over 2 years in federal prison 3 years’ supervised release |
Conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft |
|
Anderson Tejada Rossis |
3 years’ probation |
Conspiracy and access device fraud |
|
Michel Lamah, 31, Indianapolis, IN |
Over 3 years in federal prison 3 years’ supervised release |
Conspiracy and access device fraud |
Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Division made the announcement.
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case. The U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indiana State Police provided invaluable assistance.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy J. Cho who prosecuted the case.