FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
October 24, 2011	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #: 1:11-cr-00174 AWI

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Jairo Fernandez, 27, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty today to a credit card fraud conspiracy.

According to court documents, Fernandez admitted that between November 2007 and August 2010, he conspired with Jorge Palenzuela, 42, of Bakersfield, and Yuri Perez Machado, 39, of Delano, to use fraudulently obtained credit cards. They opened credit card accounts with Lowe's and Home Depot home improvement stores in their own names but using the information taken from publicly available business documents of victim companies, including the companies' employer or tax identification numbers. Fernandez and his co-conspirators obtained credit card account numbers in California, Kansas, and Texas, purchasing approximately $241,600 worth of goods.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, with assistance from the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Stanley A. Boone are prosecuting the case.

Chief United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii is scheduled to sentence Fernandez on January 9, 2012. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Charges against Palenzuela and Machado are pending. The two are scheduled for a hearing before Judge Ishii on November 21, 2011. The charges against them are only allegations, and the two defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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