Alabama Man Sentenced To More Than Six Years For Access Device Fraud And Identity Theft

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Terrell Tramone Brown (48, Alabama) to six years and eight months in federal prison for access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The Court also ordered him to forfeit $102,024.15, which is traceable to proceeds of the offense.  Brown pleaded guilty on June 6, 2016.

According to court documents, on August 28, 2015, Brown, identifying himself as C.W., went to Dimmitt Cadillac in Clearwater, Florida and obtained a line of credit to purchase a 2015 Cadillac Escalade for $102,024.15. He provided the dealership with a counterfeit Kentucky driver’s license featuring C.W.’s name, but with Brown’s photograph. Brown also gave the dealership C.W.’s date of birth, Social Security number, and home address to secure the financing for the vehicle.

On February 19, 2016, investigators interviewed C.W., who currently resides in Texas. He stated that he does not know Brown, nor did he give him authorization to use his information to secure a loan. C.W. provided a copy of his credit report that lists the loan for the 2015 Cadillac Escalade as one of C.W.’s current obligations.  According to that credit report, no payments have been made towards the loan balance since the inception of the loan on August 29, 2015. A representative from the Kentucky State Police confirmed that the Kentucky driver’s license used by Brown was counterfeit.

On February 23, 2016, law enforcement officers stopped and arrested Brown as he was driving the 2015 Cadillac Escalade in Hernando County, Florida. At the time, Brown was a fugitive from his term of supervised release related to an earlier federal conviction for counterfeiting. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of counterfeit checks, blank check stock, miscellaneous mail addressed to C.W. in Tampa, numerous counterfeit Florida and Kentucky driver’s licenses with Brown’s photo on them, numerous counterfeit Veterans Affairs ID’s with Brown’s picture on them, bank account documents matching the names on the counterfeit driver’s licenses and ID’s, miscellaneous personal identifiable information in the form of names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, counterfeit and re-encoded credit cards, a credit card skimmer, and numerous computers, devices, and smart phones. A search of Brown’s devices revealed that he had previously attempted to purchase a 2015 Dodge Charger for $49,169.14, and a 2014 Range Rover for $93,679.89, using stolen identities.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel.