Reno, Nevada Man Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft For Fraudulent Credit Card Use In Boise

BOISE – Rapphel Johnson, 28, of Reno, Nevada, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court to one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Sentencing is set for February 18, 2015, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

Johnson was indicted in September 2014, for access device fraud (credit card fraud) and aggravated identity theft. According to the plea agreement, Johnson admitted that on September 1, 2014, he and a co-defendant knowingly used counterfeit credit cards containing the account numbers of real people to make a number of fraudulent purchases in Boise at stores including Rite Aid, Subway, T-Mobile, Finish Line, and Macy’s. In particular, Johnson admitted using a counterfeit credit card, with another person’s account number, to purchase a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 at the Boise Towne Square Mall. Additionally, Johnson admitted that when he was contacted by police, at a motel room rented with a counterfeit credit card, Johnson threw several counterfeit credit cards out the motel room window.

A violation of aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of two years, a term of supervised release of not more than one year, a maximum fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Boise Police Department.