News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
April 30, 2009
Indictment charges four with identity theft fraud scheme
A federal grand jury has charged Eric Snead, 32, of Providence, and three other defendants with identity theft and credit card fraud for allegedly obtaining duplicate cards of credit card customers and using the cards at casinos, auto club service centers, and retail stores. The accounts of more than 50 victims were compromised and two banks were defrauded of more than $500,000, according to the indictment.
United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente and Thomas M. Powers, Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence office of the United States Secret Service, announced a 32-count indictment, which the grand jury returned yesterday in U.S. District Court, Providence.
Charged, in addition to Snead are: Harry Gonzalez, 43, Norma Danzot, 40, and Kenneth Muniz, 21, all of Providence.
According to the indictment, Snead obtained victims’ identification information, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, and addresses. He allegedly used that information to manufacture false temporary Rhode Island drivers’ licenses in the victims’ names, but with photographs of his coconspirators. He then used a variety of ruses to obtain duplicate cards of the victims’ credit accounts with Bank of America or Citibank. He and his codefendants allegedly used the duplicate cards to obtain cash, travelers checks, merchandise, and services at retail stores, at auto club service centers, and at casinos in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Las Vegas.
The indictment alleges that, after obtaining a victim’s information, Snead logged onto Internet sites to obtain the victim’s credit report. He then contacted either Bank of America or Citibank and requested a duplicate card in the victim’s name, claiming that he had moved, that the card had been lost, or damaged or making another misrepresentation to justify the need for the duplicate card. Snead asked that the card be shipped via Federal Express or UPS, and then an accomplice, using a fake temporary Rhode Island driver’s license, allegedly intercepted the package at a FedEx or UPS terminal so that it wasn’t delivered to the victim’s address.
According to the indictment, the conspirators obtained cash and goods worth over $500,000, causing Bank of America to lose more than $300,000 and Citibank more than $200,000.
The indictment charges all four defendants with conspiracy to commit identity theft. It charges Snead, Gonzalez, and Danzot with 11 counts of unauthorized use of access devices (credit cards), Snead and Gonzales with nine counts of unlawfully producing identification documents, and Snead with possessing with intent to unlawfully use identification documents and possessing a document-making implement. It also charges Snead, Gonzalez and Danzot with aggravated identity theft.
An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If the defendants are convicted, the maximum penalties for the offenses are: Conspiracy – five years imprisonment; access device fraud – ten years imprisonment; unlawful production of an identification document, illegal possession of identification documents, and possessing a document-making implement – 15 years imprisonment; aggravated identity theft – two years imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Each offense also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, except for aggravated identity theft, which does not call for a fine.
Agents arrested Snead and Gonzalez on April 4 on a federal complaint. They are detained in federal custody. Agents arrested Danzot today, and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Munoz.
The Secret Service, Rhode Island State Police, and Providence Police conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adi Goldstein is prosecuting the case.
Contact: 401-709-5032 Thomas.connell@usdoj.gov