Wilson Father and Daughter Sentenced for Counterfeit Access Device Offenses

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that today in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever III sentenced quenchelle houpe, 22, and her father BRIAN HOUPE, SR., of Wilson, North Carolina to 39 months imprisonment each, followed by three years of supervised release.  On May 20, 2019, QUENCHELLE HOUPE pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit access devices, and to one count of trafficking in counterfeit access devices.  July 22, 2019, BRIAN HOUPE, SR. pled guilty to the same offenses.

From April 2015 to September 2018, the HOUPES executed a credit card fraud scheme involving the purchase of merchandise using counterfeit credit cards encoded with account information that had been stolen from bank customers.  More than 1,000 fraudulent purchase transactions were conducted using more than 793 stolen account numbers. The crimes, which resulted in a total loss of $393,601.59, were committed at Sam’s Club stores located in several east coast states including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and New York.

Both defendants were ordered to pay restitution.

The United States Secret Service and the Rocky Mount Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Toby Lathan represented the government.