California Woman Pleads Guilty to Access Device Fraud

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Melissa Iford, age 22, of Weaverville, California, appeared before Chief US District Judge Karen E. Schreier on March 11, 2011, and pled guilty to four counts of access device fraud. Iford was indicted by a grand jury on November 2, 2010, with four counts of access device fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count.

In October 2010, Melissa Iford went to four banks at four locations in Sioux Falls and attempted to use a credit card that did not belong to her with the intent to defraud each bank office of things of value exceeding $1,000. The credit card had previously been reported to one of the banks as being stolen. The investigation was conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the US Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for June 6, 2011. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal pending sentencing.