Ivory Joe Pruitt, a 61-year-old man from Orlando, Florida, was sentenced on July 31 to 63 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Pruitt was also ordered to pay $137,392.74 in restitution.
According to the announcement by Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Louisville Field Office; and Chief Joe Monroe of the University of Kentucky Police Department, more than a dozen university, hospital, and local police agencies participated in the investigation that led to Pruitt’s conviction.
Between August 2022 and May 2024, Pruitt and several co-conspirators executed an organized scheme targeting hospitals and university buildings across multiple states. The group stole wallets containing credit cards, debit cards, and personal identifying information. They then used these stolen cards—and fraudulent Sam’s Club accounts created with victims’ identities—to make or attempt over $179,000 in purchases at retailers such as Sam’s Club, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Target. The operation spanned at least a dozen states and involved more than 30 victims whose financial information was used without authorization. Authorities said Pruitt played a central role by directing aspects of the operation as well as personally stealing numerous wallets and repeatedly using stolen identities.
Pruitt’s co-conspirators have already been sentenced: Yoshi Keori Williams received 112 months in prison with two years supervised release; Daniel Rashaud Sanchious received credit for time served (21 months) with two years supervised release; Tashawn Shamal Canegata received 30 months with two years supervised release; Kellie Marie Miller received a total of 45 months with two years supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Louisville Field Office along with the University of Kentucky Police Department and dozens of other police agencies nationwide. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky enforces federal laws—including prosecuting criminal cases—and works under the U.S. Department of Justice while collaborating with federal, state and local agencies on initiatives such as drug abuse prevention programs and elder protection efforts through community outreach initiatives like the Elder Justice Task Force and Heroin Education Action Team, according to the official website.