BIRMINGHAM - A federal grand jury today indicted three North Carolina residents for access-device fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and U.S. Secret Service Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Anderson announced.
An indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges RENEE CHARLENE POINTER, 40, TERRENCE DONNELL WOOTEN, 44, and TERRANCE LAVON CAMPBELL, 38, with possessing more than 350 counterfeit debit and credit cards and with aggravated identity theft.
“This case represents a disturbing trend of people from other states coming to the Northern District of Alabama to carry out identity-fraud crimes. Thanks to the diligent effort and cooperation of federal and local law enforcement, we were able to stop this group," Vance said.
All three defendants face 10 years in custody if convicted of the access-device charge and a mandatory two-year prison term if convicted of aggravated identity theft. Each charge also carries a potential fine of $250,000.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Oxford Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the Calhoun County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa K. Atwood is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
