Albert Gonzalez Pleads Guilty to Identity Theft Scam & NM Man Indicted on Fraud and Identity Theft Charges
The Miami man accused of masterminding one of the largest identity theft scams in U.S. history has pleaded guilty to 20 counts related to the criminal identity theft of nearly 130 million debit and credit card records.
Twenty-eight-year-old Albert Gonzalez's plea comes nearly one month after he was indicted on identity theft charges in cases in both Massachusetts and New York.
The charges were in relation to the large-scale criminal identity theft scams that occurred between October 2006 to May 2008 in which Gonzalez and a band of accomplices were able to break into credit card payment systems for companies such as Heartland Payment Systems, 7-Eleven, and Hannaford Brothers and steal confidential information.
He faces 15 to 25 years in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for December 8.
"Computer hacking and identity theft pose serious risks to our commercial, personal and financial security," Benton Campbell, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. "Hackers, including those who commit their crimes from abroad, will find no refuge from the reach of U.S. criminal justice - they will be found, prosecuted and convicted."
As part of his sentence, Gonzalez will also forfeit more than $1.65 million in U.S. currency, a condominium in Miami, a blue 2006 BMW automobile, IBM and Toshiba laptop computers, a Glock 27 firearm, a Nokia cell phone, a Tiffany diamond ring and three Rolex watches, according to Bloomberg.
New Mexico man indicted on 26 counts of criminal identity theft and fraud-related charges
New Mexico's Taxation and Revenue Department (NMTRD) announced on September 3 that 43-year-old Roderick White of Los Ranchos was indicted on 26 counts of criminal identity theft and fraud, including forgery and using false driver's license after issuing false checks using a NMTRD bank account.
If convicted on all counts, White faces more than 35 years in prison and over $100,000 in fines
According to NMTRD secretary Rick Homans, White allegedly wrote out counterfeit checks to two local NAPA Auto Parts stores as well as an Allsups Convenience Store that had used NMTRD account numbers.
Additionally, an initial investigation into the use of the checks uncovered that White had also allegedly conducted criminal identity theft and fraud, including forgery through the use of false driver's licenses.
"We want to send a very clear and strong message to individuals such as Mr. White," said Homans. "We take these charges seriously and we will pursue you with all available resources to protect the taxpayers' interest and innocent businesses in New Mexico."
White's indictment comes only days after another significant criminal identity theft and fraud-related conviction on September 3 in which Mark Nielson, Corey Skinner, and Amanda Stillwell were convicted of conducting identity theft scams using electronic devices to "skim" credit card numbers from fast food restaurants and gyms before cloning the numbers and using them at local stores.
While Nielson and Skinner were each sentenced to 10 years in prison in their criminal identity theft cases, Stillwell received an 8-10 year sentence.
