Nacogdoches Traffic Stop Results In Federal Prison Sentence For Mexican National

 BEAUMONT, Texas – A 27-year-old Tamaulipas, Mexico man has been sentenced to federal prison for credit card fraud related charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.

Samuel Rivera Compean pleaded guilty on Apr. 16, 2013, to possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.  Compean was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $58,754 to Discover Financial Services, a credit card issuer. 

According to information presented in court, on Mar. 16, 2012, Compean was stopped by a State trooper for a traffic violation in Nacogdoches, Texas.  During the traffic stop, 146 fraudulent credit cards were discovered in different names with matching false identification cards bearing Compean’s picture. The cards were secreted in various compartments in the car. Compean also had numerous electronic items purchased with the cards including I-pads, I-pods, Xboxes, and laptop computers. Compean attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended after a short foot chase. He was released later on bond by a local judge.  Compean was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 6, 2013, and charged with federal credit card fraud charges.  Compean will be deported following his prison sentence.

                This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Houston Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Rawls.