A Massachusetts resident, Andre Hill, has admitted guilt in a federal court in Portland for charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Court documents reveal that Hill, 25, engaged in illicit activities between January and February 2023 by acquiring multiple debit card numbers without the account holders' consent.

Hill utilized these stolen numbers by uploading them into a digital wallet on his phone. He then traveled to Maine and other areas to conduct purchases, request cash back, and buy money orders made out to himself. The fraudulent transactions occurred at various retail stores and post offices around the greater Portland area.

The potential penalties for Hill are severe. For the bank fraud charge alone, he could face up to 30 years in federal prison along with a maximum fine of $1 million. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence and a possible fine of up to $250,000. This sentence will be served consecutively with any other imposed sentences. After serving time in prison, Hill could also be subject to five years of supervised release and is obligated to pay restitution to those affected by his actions.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) alongside the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.