AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885

MAY 4, 2006

BALTIMORE WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAIL FRAUD IN IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME

BALTIMORE, Maryland - Nicole Jones Randall, age 28, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to mail fraud, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the statement of facts provided to the court as part of the plea agreement, in furtherance of a scheme to defraud individuals and businesses of money and property, Randall’s co-defendant, Dee Deidre Farmer, age 41, of Baltimore, set up a bank account in April 2005 at Harris Bank in Illinois in the name of an identity theft victim, but using Randall’s address. In December 2005, Randall participated with Farmer and others in a series of fraudulent retail transactions which resulted in the following losses: Walmart ($5,878.20), Sam’s Club ($4,318.06), Home Depot ($1,404.83) and Nordstroms ($5,585.00), for a total loss of $17,186.09.

Randall faces a maximum sentence of imprisonment for 20 years, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. U.S. District Judge William M. Nickerson has scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.

Farmer has been charged with five counts of mail fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The maximum penalty for each charge of mail fraud is 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Each aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory penalty of two years in prison which must be served consecutively to the sentence for mail fraud. No trial date has been set for Farmer, who remains in state custody on related charges.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the United States Secret Service Fraud Task Force and Electronic Crimes Working Group, and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police. Mr. Rosenstein also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Welsh, who is prosecuting the case.