Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, ID Theft, and Firearm Offenses

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy, identity theft, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Markis Jordan Dickerson, 22, conspired with Christopher Douglas Boone and others to obtain money from several financial institutions by depositing worthless and counterfeit financial instruments into accounts belonging to other individuals and then conducting debit card transactions at ATM and retail locations throughout Hampton Roads. Dickerson and Boone recruited account holders of several financial institutions via social media to provide access to their debit cards and personal identification numbers for a period of time in exchange for money. Dickerson, Boone, and other conspirators then deposited worthless and counterfeit checks and money orders into the compromised accounts primarily through “mobile deposit” online banking applications. Dickerson, Boone, and others then withdrew cash and made purchases at ATM and retail locations to access the funds made available through such fraudulent deposits. Both men carried firearms when conducting such transactions.

Dickerson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.  He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, along with a mandatory consecutive two-year term when sentenced on March 29, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-43.