Four Maryland Residents Charged In Counterfeit Credit Card Scheme
PITTSBURGH, Pa. ‑ Four Maryland residents have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy and access device fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The three‑count indictment, returned on March 29, 2011, named Lawrence A. Prempeh, 26, of Bowie, Md.; Aleecia D. Vogelzon, 21, of Columbia, Md.; Anjell C. Hanley, 20, of Upper Marlboro, Md.; and Florence K. Olatunji, 20, of Beltsville, Md., as defendants.
According to the indictment, in October 2009, the defendants conspired to traffic in and use counterfeit credit cards to purchase reload packs and merchandise in Giant Eagle stores in Western Pennsylvania. The indictment also alleges that the defendants possessed device‑making equipment, such as a magnetic strip reader used to make counterfeit cards.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment or information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
