James T. Jacks
Acting United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS COLLIN COUNTY WOMAN WHO RAN
COMPUTER THEFT RING

Defendant Owned and Operated Atlantis Computers in Richardson, Texas

DALLAS — Following an eight-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, followed by one day of deliberation, a federal jury in Dallas convicted Aynur Asya Aydemir on all 10 counts of a superseding indictment charging various offenses related to a fraud scheme she ran that victimized Dell, Inc. and Citibank, along with several local businesses, announced acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Aydemir, 43, of Allen, Texas, was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and nine substantive counts of fraud in connection with access devices and aiding and abetting. Aydemir, who has been on personal recognizance bond, was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Co-defendant Secedrick Touchstone, who was only charged in the conspiracy count, was acquitted.

The conspiracy count carries a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine and each of the fraud counts carries a maximum statutory sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Aydemir could be ordered to pay restitution. She is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2009, by Judge Solis.

At trial, the government presented evidence that in 2004 and 2005, Aydemir conspired with others, including co-defendants John Can Gurel, a/k/a Can John Gurel, 45, and Loretta Pearson, 42, to open Dell, Inc. credit accounts through Citibank using the names of real businesses, without the businesses’ knowledge or authorization, along with bogus federal tax identification numbers, to contact Dell by phone and order computers, digital projectors, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment and to charge those items to the fraudulently opened Dell credit accounts. Gurel pled guilty to his role in the conspiracy in February 2009; Pearson pled guilty to her role in the conspiracy last June. Gurel is on personal recognizance bond, but Pearson is in custody. A sentencing date for Gurel and Pearson, who both testified for the government during the trial, has not yet been set.

 Aydemir recruited Pearson to assist her in the fraud scheme. Pearson made fraudulent transactions at Citibank’s expense by opening fraudulent credit card accounts to purchase merchandise on credit from Dell, without the knowledge or permission of the businesses in whose names the accounts were opened. Pearson selected real businesses that were listed in the Dallas Better Business Bureau telephone directory, including New Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, Mockingbird Lane Bridal, Badger B Studios, Dallas Steel Drums, Gainer Tax Service and Jackson Cleaners. Aydemir and Pearson used these credit accounts to buy merchandise from Dell by placing telephone orders to Dell for computers and other electronic equipment and having the merchandise delivered, by overnight delivery services, to addresses in Dallas that Pearson controlled.

After the merchandise was delivered, Pearson arranged deliveries to Aydemir and Gurel at Atlantis Computers, a store that Aydemir owned in Richardson, Texas, and where Gurel worked as the Vice-President and Sales Manager. Aydemir purchased the merchandise from Pearson at heavily discounted prices, paying for it by check or cash. At times, Aydemir and Gurel requested that Pearson order specific items from Dell using the fraudulent accounts. Gurel assisted Aydemir in receiving the fraudulently obtained items from Pearson and by giving Pearson instructions on specific items to obtain from Dell in future orders. Gurel also assisted in the scheme by reselling the items on eBay and over the counter at Atlantis Computers. Aydemir and Gurel shared in the proceeds of the fraud scheme. Evidence at trial also showed that Aydemir and Gurel were knowingly purchasing stolen property from other persons and reselling it through eBay and to walk-in customers.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacks praised the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service and thanked Dell, Inc. and Citibank for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mark Penley and Candy Heath are prosecuting the case.

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