Four Miami-Dade residents were sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their participation in a fraud conspiracy that involved the unauthorized use of credit card numbers that had been skimmed at local establishments.
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Robert C. Hutchinson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
Jordy Hechavarria Morales, 21, Yoandy Hechavarria Morales, 29, Christian Vinent, 23, and Addel Fernandez Camejo, 31, all of Miami-Dade, previously pled guilty for their involvement in a conspiracy to commit credit card fraud. Camejo and Vinenta also pled guilty to aggravated identity theft. Jordy Morales also plead guilty to possessing fifteen or more counterfeit credit cards, using counterfeit credit cards, and using counterfeit credit cards to obtain goods valued at $1,000 or more. In addition, Jordy Morales was convicted, following a bench trial, of aggravated identity theft. Yoandy Morales also pled guilty to possessing fifteen or more counterfeit credit cards, three counts of using counterfeit credit cards, and using counterfeit credit cards to obtain goods valued at $1,000 or more. In addition, Yoandy Morales was convicted, following a bench trial, of three counts of aggravated identity theft.
The Honorable Judge Kenneth A. Marra sentenced each of the defendants to a term of incarceration, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Camejo was sentenced to 36 months; Vinent was sentenced to 38 months; Jordy Morales was sentenced to 40 months; and Yoandy Morales was sentenced to 48 months, in prison.
According to court documents, on March 24, 2015, officers with the Tequesta Police Department stopped a car that was occupied by Jordy Morales, Yoandy Morales, Vinent and Camejo. During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered 143 credit cards, each embossed with a defendant’s name or alias. Officers also found counterfeit Florida driver’s licenses embossed with Vinent and Yoandy Morales’ aliases. Each of the discovered credit cards was found to be counterfeit and included unauthorized credit card numbers. During the subsequent investigation, agents uncovered evidence that the conspirators had used additional unauthorized credit cards during the course of the conspiracy. In total, the defendants were engaged in a conspiracy involving 173 counterfeit and unauthorized credit cards.
The unauthorized credit card numbers used during the course of the conspiracy actually belonged to Palm Beach County residents. These credit card account numbers were unlawfully obtained through the use of “skimmers" at gas stations in Palm Beach County. The stolen credit card numbers were then used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards which were encoded and embossed with the account number and a conspirator’s name, to make it appear as if the defendant was the actual account holder. The defendants, who are residents of Miami-Dade County, traveled together to Palm Beach County and used the counterfeit credit cards to purchase and attempt to purchase Visa, MasterCard, and American Express gift cards from Palm Beach County merchants.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI and the Village of Tequesta Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Evans.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
