New York Men Sentenced for Identity Theft

BOISE – Jason Morel, 22, and Kenith J. Quesada, 23, both of Bronx, New York, were sentenced last Thursday for aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis. Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge sentenced Morel to 24 months and Quesada to 12 months in federal prison.  Both men pleaded guilty on August 2, 2017.  Co-conspirator Rafael Moran was sentenced on August 8, 2017, for aggravated identity theft.

According to the plea agreements, Morel, Quesada, and Moran traveled from New York to Idaho in April 2016 to perpetrate a fraud scheme at AT&T company stores and authorized dealers.  The men impersonated real AT&T customers, presented fake driver’s licenses and credit cards, and purchased iPhones and iPads using those customers’ accounts.  Law enforcement found dozens of fake driver’s licenses and credit cards in the vehicle that Morel, Quesada, and Moran used to travel through Idaho, as well as a stash of fraudulently-purchased electronics.  Morel is believed to be the ringleader of the group, and his personal cell phone contained names, addresses, telephone numbers, and social security numbers belonging to the AT&T customers that he, Quesada, and Moran impersonated.

This case was investigated by the Boise Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.