RALEIGH - United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today in federal court Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced IBRAHIM BARRIE, 32, of Raleigh, to serve a total of 42 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, on charges of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1), and Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2). BARRIE was also ordered to make restitution to victims.
According to the Criminal Information and other details discussed in open court, BARRIE was a participant in a credit card and cigarette trafficking scheme. The purpose of the scheme was to use stolen credit card account information to purchase large quantities of cigarettes in North Carolina which were resold in New York. To carry out the scheme, participants acquired stolen credit card data from other conspirators and encoded the stolen data onto the magnetic strip of what appeared to be legitimate gift cards. Managers in the scheme, including BARRIE, then distributed the cards to “runners" who traveled to various gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores located around the state to purchase dozens of cartons of cigarettes at a time using the counterfeit gift cards. The runners returned the cigarettes to the managers in the scheme, who paid the runners a kickback. Managers, including BARRIE, periodically make trips to New York to sell the cigarettes on the black market for cash.
On July 22, 2012, BARRIE was arrested on state charges after a concerned citizen indicated that BARRIE and others attempted to have the citizen purchase gasoline on BARRIE’s credit card in exchange for payment. A subsequent search of BARRIE and his vehicle revealed 20 cartons of cigarettes and 11 counterfeit gift cards. Additionally, on Oct. 24, 2012, BARRIE was stopped by Virginia State Police. During a search of the defendant’s car police located 600 cartons of cigarettes.
Investigation of BARRIE’s case was conducted by the United States Secret Service, with the assistance of the Raleigh Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represented the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
