DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Acting United States Attorney Edward R. Ryan
Western District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 23, 2009

CONTACT: Suellen Pierce
704.338.3120
Fax: 704.227.0264

WILKESBORO, NC WOMAN ENTERS GUILTY PLEA IN FEDERAL COURT IN CHARLOTTE Defendant Unlawfully Accessed Social Security Numbers of Others and Fraudulently Used Them to Obtain Credit Cards CHARLOTTE, NC—Kristi Williams Frazier, 36, of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, entered a guilty plea today in U.S. District Court in Charlotte to a federal bill of information charging her with one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution.

Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan is joined in making today’s announcement by Keith Fixel, Postal Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Charlotte Division, and Dane Mastin, Sheriff of Wilkes County, North Carolina. According to the bill of information, which was filed prior to today’s entry of guilty plea, Frazier, who was employed as an office manager for Aeroflow Healthcare in Wilkesboro, unlawfully accessed personnel records of various co-workers. Using at least one co-workers’ social security number and date of birth, Frazier applied for and received credit cards in that coworker’s name. Frazier subsequently used these credit cards to make personal expenditures totaling approximately $1,340. In addition, the charges contained in the bill of information described how Frazier fraudulently obtained the social security number of a close family member, which Frazier utilized to obtain several credit cards. Frazier subsequently used these credit cards to make personal expenditures totaling approximately $35,000. Frazier also used the family member’s identifying information to access existing lines of credit in the family member’s name, and transfer funds from those lines of credit to accounts controlled by Frazier. In sum Frazier fraudulently caused and facilitated the transfer of $43,328.

According to the plea agreement, Frazier faces a possible statutory penalty of up to 30 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1 million. The plea agreement also provides that Frazier agrees to pay full restitution to all victims directly or indirectly harmed by her relevant conduct.

U.S. Magistrate Judge, David C. Keesler, who presided over today’s hearing, announced that a date for the sentencing of Frazier will be set at a later time for her appearance in U.S. District Court. The case was handled for the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas T. Cullen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.