Michigan Man Sentenced on Identity Theft Charges

St. Louis, MO – SHAUN VASSER, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to 24 months in prison Monday afternoon for his role in a four-person identity theft ring which was disrupted in St. Louis County this summer.  He appeared for sentencing before United States District Judge Henry Autrey.

Vasser had pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft for his role in a ring that possessed a credit card encoder and names and identities of multiple individuals.  The group used the names and information to create counterfeit gift cards and other access devices, which were successfully passed at area stores.

In addition to his prison term, Vasser was ordered to remain on court supervision for one year after his release from prison and further ordered to pay restitution to the credit card companies victimized by his crime.  Vasser’s three co-defendants, Jazmine Farmer, Amber Lindsay and Shukree Melton have all also pleaded guilty and await sentencing later this year.

The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Office of the U.S. Secret Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.