An indictment was unsealed in Oakland charging three Indiana residents with conspiracy related to a SIM-swapping operation. Indigo Kiara Graham, Cortez Tarmar Crawford, and Trevon Demar Allen were arrested and appeared in federal court in South Bend, Indiana.

The indictment, filed on November 7, 2024, alleges that Graham, 27, Crawford, 22, and Allen, 30, all from Elkhart, Indiana, conspired to enrich themselves by targeting victims for SIM swaps. A SIM card stores authentication information for mobile networks. In a SIM swap scheme, criminals change the victim's SIM card to one they control. This allows them to impersonate the victim and access services like email providers and cryptocurrency exchanges by using the victim’s phone number for password resets.

From April 2023 to May 2024, the defendants allegedly created fake identification documents in victims' names and performed SIM swaps for money. They accessed victims’ accounts to steal money and data or extorted victims by demanding money to restore access. The funds were concealed through cryptocurrency transactions. Graham and Crawford are also charged with aggravated identity theft involving incidents at a mobile service provider store in El Cerrito, California.

The defendants were released on bond and ordered to appear on December 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore.

United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp announced the charges. "An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed," they stated. "All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

If convicted of conspiracy charges, each defendant faces up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000 among other penalties. Graham and Crawford could face additional sentences for aggravated identity theft.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle J. Kane is prosecuting the case with Kathy Tat's assistance following an FBI investigation.