Brooklyn Woman Pleads Guilty in Counterfeit Credit Card Scheme
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
Ana Deleon, 49, pleaded guilty on June 26, to two counts before Senior United States District Judge Gustave Diamond.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Deleon conspired to traffic in counterfeit credit cards which were used to purchase gift cards.
Judge Diamond scheduled sentencing for Oct. 24, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service along with agents from the United States Secret Service who as part of the Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Deleon. The Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force (WPFCTF) was established in February 1995 as a collaborative, multiagency effort to effectively combat financial crimes, including identity fraud, in Western Pennsylvania. Partnering in this effort is the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police the Pennsylvania State Police.
