Browns Indictment
BATON ROUGE WOMEN INDICTED FOR IDENTITY THEFT
BATON ROUGE, LA – United States Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr. announced that a Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment on Wednesday, February 29, 2011, charging TRACHELL NAKIA BROWN, 26, and TREVIA LATOYA BROWN, 27, both of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with bank fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal use of social security account numbers.
The Indictment alleges that from January 2007 through January 2010 TRACHELL NAKIA BROWN and TREVIA LATOYA BROWN stole the identities of several area individuals and thereafter obtained unauthorized credit cards in the names of the victims. The defendants used the fraudulently obtained credit cards to make unauthorized purchases in excess of $148,000. The defendants created more than 20 unauthorized credit card accounts and defrauded at least 9 different federally insured financial institutions during a 3 year scheme to unlawfully enrich themselves.
If convicted, TRACHELL BROWN faces a maximum sentence of 315 years in prison and an additional mandatory minimum 8 years if convicted of aggravated identity theft. TRACHELL BROWN is subject to fines of $9,500,000.
If convicted, TREVIA BROWN faces a maximum sentence of 120 years in prison and an additional mandatory minimum sentence of 4 years if convicted of aggravated identity theft. TREVIA BROWN is subject to fines of $3,750,000.
U.S. Attorney Donald J. Cazayoux, Jr., stated, “This is a very serious case involving federal laws designed to prevent criminals from stealing and misusing the identities of law-abiding citizens. Such egregious abuse of our citizens and financial institutions will not be tolerated. We will do everything within our power to work with our law enforcement partners like the United States Postal Inspection Service to investigate those persons who attempt to profit from the good names and credit of the citizens of the Middle District of Louisiana.”
Postal Inspector-in-Charge Robert Wemyss stated, “When the mail is used to commit crimes like this, Postal Inspectors diligently pursue those responsible. People trust the mail, and it's our job to ensure that its integrity is protected.”
The Indictment is the result of a lengthy investigation by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rene Salomon and Shubhra Shivpuri.
NOTE: An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that probable cause exists to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial
