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Department of Justice United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley Western District of Virginia |
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CONTACT: Brian McGinn PHONE: 540-857-2974 FAX: 540-857-2179 EMAIL: Brian.McGinn@usdoj.gov www.usdoj.gov/usao/vaw |
CUBAN NATIONALS SENTENCED FOR CREDIT CARD FRAUD
Osmiel And Javier Rodriguez Conspired To Utter Fraudulent Credit Cards
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA -- A pair of Cuban Nationals who attempted to use counterfeit credit cards, but got caught red handed at a local Walmart, were sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to repay at least part of the money lost by local businesses.
Osmiel Vasquez Rodriguez, 26, and Javier Rodriguez, 39, who are not related to each other, were both sentenced today in separate hearings. Both defendants, who have been in custody since October 2008, were released on time served and sentenced to three years of supervised release. In addition, both defendants were ordered to pay restitution, joint and several, totaling $8,992.13.
Both men were indicted in March 2009 and charged with a variety of counts related to a conspiracy to utter counterfeit credit cards and false identity documents. In May 2009, each defendant pled guilty to one count of conspiring to utter and two counts each of uttering a fraudulent credit card.
The defendants have admitted to using counterfeit credit cards to make purchases of merchandise and gift cards at Walmart locations throughout the Western District of Virginia. Specifically, the defendants made multiple purchases from the Christiansburg, Va. Store.
At the time of their arrest, the two men were in the process of making a fraudulent purchase at the Christiansburg store when a clerk contacted police. The two men attempted to allude police, but were apprehended following a brief foot chase. At the time of his arrest, Osmiel Rodriguez was found to be in possession of 11 counterfeit credit card and a fake driver’s license from the state of Pennsylvania. Javier Rodriguez was in possession of three counterfeit credit cards.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.