FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
March 19, 2012	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 Yuri Perez Machado, 39, of Delano, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to use unauthorized access devices, in violation of federal law.

According to court documents, between March 2010 and August 2010, Machado participated with co-defendants Jorge Palenzuela and Jairo Fernandez, both of Bakersfield, in a conspiracy to obtain credit card account numbers by fraudulently opening credit card accounts with large, nationally recognized home improvement stores. In order to obtain the credit card account numbers, the defendants falsely represented themselves to the home improvement store employees as agents of a business entity applying for a credit card account, and would accordingly complete a credit card application. To substantiate their claims, they created false public incorporation documents listing Machado or other co-conspirators as an officer or authorized agent of the business entity purportedly applying for the credit card account. Once a credit card account number was obtained, they used the account to purchase goods from the stores. Using this scheme, the defendants purchased $209,843 worth of goods from home improvement stores.

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.

Machado is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on June 11, 2012. Machado faces a maximum 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 factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

On January 9, 2012, Fernandez was sentenced by Judge Ishii to five years in prison. On February 6, 2012, Palenzuela pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use unauthorized access devices and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ishii on April 23, 2012.

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