Anchorage, Alaska – United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that two Fairbanks men were sentenced in federal court in Fairbanks for a felony conviction of access device fraud.

On February 25, 2011, Matthew Lalonde, 21, and Tyler Stephens, 22, residents of Fairbanks, Alaska, were sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Ralph R. Beistline. Lalonde was sentenced to three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $19,614.32, with interest, as restitution. Stephens was sentenced to four years probation and ordered to pay $3,426.71 as restitution.

According to court documents presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yvonne Lamoureux, who prosecuted the case, Stephens had access to a Tesoro credit card that belonged to Uresco Construction Materials, Inc. while he was an employee of Uresco. When Stephens stopped working for Uresco, he kept Uresco's Tesoro credit card and continued to use it without authorization. Between May and December 2009, Stephens and Lalonde used the stolen credit card to pay for filling up their own and others' vehicles at gas stations in Fairbanks and North Pole. Between May 22, 2009 to October 17, 2009, Stephens' unauthorized use and control of Uresco's Tesoro credit card allowed him to obtain $3,426.71 of fuel for himself and others. Stephens then gave the stolen credit card to Lalonde. Between October 17, 2009 to December 26, 2009, Lalonde's unauthorized use and control of the stolen credit card allowed him to obtain $19,614.32 of fuel for himself and others. Together, they are responsible for fraudulent use of the stolen credit card on more than 400 occasions and over 6,000 gallons of fuel, for a total loss of $23,041.03.

Judge Beistline ordered that the restitution be paid to Uresco Construction Materials, Inc., with a special condition that Stephens shall notify any present and future employers, or other organizations for which he elects to provide service, of his conviction in this case. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Beistline noted the harm to Uresco, the need to provide restitution to Uresco, the need to protect the public from further crimes of the defendants, and the need to afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct.

Ms. Loeffler commended the United States Secret Service and Fairbanks Police Department for the investigation leading to the convictions of Lalonde and Stephens.

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