Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson has announced that Kenneth Richmond, a 64-year-old resident of New Orleans, pled guilty to charges related to a fraudulent vehicle purchase scheme. On May 9, 2025, Richmond admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Richmond could face up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, with an additional two-year mandatory consecutive sentence for the identity theft charge. Each count carries potential fines up to $250,000 and a special assessment fee of $100. Supervised release terms are also possible following his prison sentences.
Court documents reveal that in 2022, Richmond collaborated with another individual using stolen personal information to fraudulently buy vehicles from a local dealership. These purchases were financed through loans from a financial institution, many of which defaulted, causing a loss of approximately $124,031.41 for the dealership. As part of this scheme, Richmond used someone's name and Social Security Number without consent to acquire a Dodge Challenger in July 2022.
The Honorable Barry Ashe has scheduled Richmond's sentencing for August 14, 2025.
Acknowledgment was given by the U.S. Attorney’s Office to the United States Secret Service, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana Department of Public Safety for their work on this case. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni is handling the prosecution as part of the Financial Crimes Unit.
