DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Fourth defendant sentenced in scheme using stolen credit card numbers purchased on the internet

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Dissent

U.S. District Judge William D. Quarles, Jr. sentenced Tomeka V. Harris, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, Friday to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring with the leader of the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) in Maryland to distribute heroin; and in a separate criminal case, for conspiring to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud banks and credit card companies using stolen credit card information. Judge Quarles also ordered Harris to pay $521,312.67 in restitution.

According to Harris’ plea agreement in the identity theft scheme, from September 2005 through November 2008, Harris and her co-conspirators defrauded banks and credit card companies using stolen credit card information. Harris worked primarily with co-defendant Michael Hayes and other co-conspirators she recruited to work for her. Initially, Hayes provided Harris with bogus credit cards and gift cards in which the magnetic strip on the back of the card had been re-encoded with data from stolen credit card account numbers without the knowledge of the real account holders. Hayes and others purchased these numbers using the internet. Harris used these gift cards and credit cards to buy merchandise and other gift cards which could be used or sold.

Eventually, Harris sold re-encoded cards to others, or caused individuals known as “strikers” to use the fraudulent credit cards at retail stores to buy other gift cards. These individuals were paid cash or a percentage of the goods the co-conspirators were able to obtain by using the cards.

As the conspiracy continued, Harris obtained the equipment to re-encode the stolen credit card numbers onto credit cards and gift cards herself, using stolen credit card numbers provided by Hayes and others. Harris changed the credit cards so that the name shown for the credit account would match the name of the person using the fraudulent card.

Altogether, Harris and her co-conspirators used credit card information relating to over 1,000 stolen credit cards, issued by more than 10 financial institutions. The total loss was more than $500,000.

Five Baltimore defendants have pleaded guilty to the same charges in connection with the identity theft scheme. Four defendants have been sentenced, including Michael Hayes, age 31, who was sentenced to 144 months in prison on June 22, 2010 after admitting to additional offenses of breaking his electronic monitoring, fleeing the jurisdiction and committing a new fraud offense while under pre-trial supervision. The remaining defendant, ringleader Robert Bernard Forrest, age 39, of Baltimore, is scheduled to be sentenced on February 15, 2011.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Maryland

Category: Breach IncidentsID TheftU.S.

Post navigation

← Centra notifies 13,964 patients after laptop theft
(follow-up) NC: Ex-pizza parlor owner gets 5 years for identity theft →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Industry Letter – June 23, 2025: Impact to Financial Sector of Ongoing Global Conflicts
  • MNGI Digestive Health settles class action lawsuit stemming from BlackCat attack
  • Four REvil ransomware members released after time served on carding charges
  • Why Dumping Sensitive Data on Network Shares is a Liability
  • A militarily degraded Iran may turn to asymmetrical warfare – raising risk of proxy and cyber attacks
  • Pro-Russian hackers disrupt Dutch government websites ahead of NATO summit
  • Iran-Linked Threat Actors Leak Visitors and Athletes’ Data from Saudi Games
  • UK: Oxford City Council still investigating cyberattack from earlier this month
  • Steelmaker Nucor Says Hackers Stole Data in Recent Attack
  • People’s Republic of China cyber threat activity: Cyber Threat Bulletin

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Sky Views Personal Data as a Potential Weapon in IPTV Piracy War
  • Florida Used a Nationwide Surveillance Camera Network 250 Times To Aid in Immigration Arrests
  • Federal Court Strikes Down HIPAA Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule
  • The Markup caught 4 more states sharing personal health data with Big Tech
  • Privacy in the Big Sky State: Montana’s Consumer Privacy Law Gets Amended
  • UK Passes Data Use and Access Regulation Bill
  • Officials defend Liberal bill that would force hospitals, banks, hotels to hand over data

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.