Raleigh Credit Repair Orchestrator Indicted on Charges of Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that MICHAEL ANTHONY GRIFFIN, SR., 51, of Knightdale, North Carolina, has been charged by a federal grand jury in a five-count indictment.  The indictment includes three counts of Wire Fraud, one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, and one count of Access Device Fraud.

The indictment charges that GRIFFIN, operating from his business location in Raleigh and home in Knightdale, accepted fees from clients for alleged credit repair services.  The indictment alleges that, in reality, GRIFFIN was creating fictitious credit profiles and fraudulently altering client credit data through the use of fictitious police reports.  In doing so, GRIFFIN unlawfully commandeered the identities of his clients by placing their names upon fraudulent police reports without their knowledge.

The indictment also alleges that in 2017 the defendant presented a fraudulent social security card and number to Johnson Automotive to purchase a Hyundai Genesis, a vehicle with a purchase price of more than $72,000.    

At a hearing following the search of the defendant’s home, office, and Maserati, and after the defendant’s arrest, the Government presented evidence that the defendant used a front business in North Raleigh to carry out the scheme to the tune of at least one million dollars.  Evidence was also presented that the defendant maintained electronic templates for the creation of fraudulent police reports, social security cards, and bank statements.  A thumb drive found in the Maserati contained numerous client files, including false police reports and other documents sent to credit reporting agencies.

GRIFFIN has been detained on the charges pending trial.           

If convicted, the maximum punishment for committing Wire Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, is not more than 20 years imprisonment.  The maximum penalty for committing Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1), is not less than two years imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed.  The penalty for Access Device Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(1), is not more than 10 years imprisonment.

An indictment is only an allegation of a crime.  The defendant is presumed under the law to be innocent until proven guilty. 

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represents the United States.