U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced Friday that six Cuban nationals who reside in Florida were indicted for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and two counts of access device fraud.
JULIET ESTRADA PEREZ, age 22; LUIS RIVERA GARCIA, age 26, JESUS ENRIQUE GONZALES TORRES, age 23, ORLANDO GUILLEN DIAZ, age 29, YOETNIS VAZQUEZ PEDROSA, age 31, and YILIAM TORRES, age 23, were charged with possessing fifteen or more unauthorized and counterfeit access devices, as well as producing, possessing, and trafficking device-making equipment. According to the indictment, the defendants traveled from Florida in late July of this year and conspired to place card skimming devices on gas pumps in the New Orleans area. The conspirators are further charged with, among other things, possessing a card encoding machine and a card embossing machine.
On the conspiracy charge, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of not more than five years of imprisonment. For possessing more than fifteen unauthorized and counterfeit access devices, each defendant faces a maximum of ten years in prison. In addition, the count related to device-making equipment carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years imprisonment. The defendants further face terms of supervised release, fines, and restitution obligations upon conviction.
U. S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the United States Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hayden Brockett is in charge of the prosecution.
SOURCE: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
Related: Perez indictment