TURKISH NATIONAL CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT
GIRAY BIYIKIOGLU, age 28, a Turkish national and resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was arrested today for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the documents filed in federal court, the arrest of BIYIKIOGLU followed an investigation by the United States Secret Service into a fraud scheme in which BIYIKIOGLU allegedly defrauded PayPal, Inc. According to information referenced in the complaint, BIYIKIOGLU conducted transactions involving as much as $190,000.00 as part of his scheme to defraud. The complaint further specified that BIYIKIOGLU used a means of identification belonging to another person, without lawful authority, in the commission of his wire fraud scheme.
If convicted of the wire fraud charge, BIYIKIOGLU faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years, a fine of $250,000, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. If convicted of the aggravated identity theft charge, he faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of two (2) years, which must run consecutive to any other sentence of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one (1) year of supervised release.
The investigation is being conducted by Special Agents of the United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Hayden Brockett and Dorothy Taylor.
