LEXINGTON, KY - Four individuals from Michigan are accused of conspiring to use other people’s credit card information to make purchases at retail stores in Campbell, Kenton and Boone Counties.
A federal grand jury in Covington, Ky., returned a federal indictment yesterday, charging Tyhkan S. Brunson, 34, John Cotton, 23, Adam Sanford, 24, and Brittany Bell, all from Detroit, Mich., with conspiracy to use unauthorized credit cards, use of unauthorized credit cards, conspiring to possess fifteen or more counterfeit access devices and aggravated identity theft. Bell was also charged with making false statements to the U.S. Secret Service.
The indictment alleges that in May of this year, the defendants used other people’s legitimate card numbers to purchase approximately $4,000 combined in gift cards and other merchandise from the Home Depot, Meijer and Wal-Mart.
Bell allegedly made false statements to Secret Service agents when she told them she had not possessed or used unauthorized cards.
Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Mark A. Porter, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service jointly announced the indictment.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura K. Voorhees.
A date for these defendants to appear in court has not yet been scheduled. Brunson, Cotton and Sanford each face a maximum of 25 years in prison while Bell faces a maximum of 30 years. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes.
Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
