A Florida man pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to possess and traffic stolen credit card data held by New Jersey residents, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Miguel Gonzalez, 40, of Miami, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Between January 2010 and July 2013, Gonzalez obtained and possessed stolen credit card data for more than 114,000 credit card accounts. Gonzalez purchased the stolen credit card information from various vendors who advertise and transmit the data over the Internet using email and instant chat software. These vendors sold stolen credit card data obtained from network intrusions into various corporate victims, including major retailers in the state of New Jersey. The stolen credit card data was used by Gonzalez and others to create counterfeit credit cards, which were used to enter into unauthorized and fraudulent transactions. The credit card issuers associated with the more than 114,000 stolen credit card accounts suffered a combined loss of more than $23 million. Gonzalez used the proceeds of his illegal activity to purchase multiple homes, expensive jewelry and a speedboat.
The conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 21, 2014.
U.S. Attorney Fishman credited agents of the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Mottola, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Pak of the Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property Section of the Office’s Economic Crimes Unit.
Defense counsel: Ricardo P. Hermida Esq., Miami
Gonzalez, Miguel Information
SOURCE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey