Defendant Terrance Barimah fails to appear for his sentencing hearing; Court issues a warrant for his arrest
BOISE – Clarence Collins, 34, of Douglasville, Georgia, Charles Moore, 25, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, and Jonathan Penn, 20 of Suwanee, Georgia, were each sentenced this week in United States District Court for their roles in a credit card scheme that targeted local retailers in October 2014, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Terrance Barimah, 26, of Floranceville, Georgia, was scheduled for sentencing on July 8, 2015, but failed to appear for the hearing. Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill issued a warrant for his arrest.
Clarence Collins was sentenced on July 6, 2015, to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Judge Winmill also ordered Collins to pay restitution of $22,679.54 along with the other co-defendants and to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds from the offense. He pleaded guilty on March 31, 2015.
Charles Moore was sentenced to 51 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Judge Winmill also ordered Moore to pay restitution of $22,679.54 along with the other co-defendants and to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds from the offense. He pleaded guilty on April 26, 2015.
Jonathan Penn was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Judge Winmill also ordered Penn to pay restitution of $22,679.54 along with the other co-defendants and to forfeit $49,953.41 in cash proceeds from the offense. He pleaded guilty on April 26, 2015.
According to the plea agreements, Collins, Moore, and Penn each admitted traveling to Idaho, along with their co-defendants, for the purpose of making fraudulent purchases of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from retail stores, using stolen credit card numbers encoded onto stock debit cards. Each defendant admitted to obtaining the stock debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers, and making purchases at retail stores on October 5, 2014.
In his plea agreement, Collins admitted to traveling to five separate retail stores, and making eight purchases of gift cards and pre-paid debit cards, using five different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use. Upon his arrest, officers found seven debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers in his possession, and 46 gift cards in the vehicle he was in.
In his plea agreement, Moore admitted to traveling to five separate retail stores, and making twenty-nine purchases of gift cards and pre-paid debit cards, using nine different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use. Upon his arrest, officers found $2,740 and 43 gift cards in his possession.
In his plea agreement, Penn admitted to traveling to five separate retail stores, and making twenty-four purchases of gift cards and pre-paid debit cards, using six different credit card numbers that he was not authorized to use. Upon his arrest, officers found three debit cards encoded with unauthorized credit card numbers and thirty gift cards in his possession.
Collins, Moore, Penn, and Barimah were indicted, along with Kyandre Banks, 34, of Lilburn, Georgia, Brian Treadwell, 25, of Buford, Georgia, Mikki Williams, 25, of Loganville, Georgia, Rashine Kale, 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Jean Estinville, 26, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Rakeen Anderson, of Atlanta, Georgia, on charges relating to a wire fraud and identity theft scheme. Collins, Banks, Estinville, Kale, Moore, Penn, Williams and Treadwell were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Anderson was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Barimah was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and illegal possession of device-making equipment.
Co-defendants Brian Treadwell and Mikki Williams were sentenced on June 16, 2014. Treadwell received 75 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Williams received three years of probation and 200 hours of community service for misprision of a felony.
Three more defendants are scheduled for sentencing before Judge Winmill. Co-defendant Rashine Kale is scheduled for sentencing on July 22, 2015. Co-defendant Jean Estinville is scheduled for sentencing on August 4, 2015. Co-Defendant Rakeen Anderson is scheduled for sentencing on August 17, 2015. Co-defendant Kyandre Banks remains a fugitive.
SOURCE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Idaho