Madeira Beach Woman Arrested For Access Device Fraud

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Heidi Richards (50, Madeira Beach) with one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, one count of trafficking in illicit labels, two counts of trafficking in unauthorized access devices, and one count of possession of 15 or more access devices. If convicted, Richards faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison for the conspiracy offense and for trafficking in illicit labels. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each access device offense. The indictment also notifies Richards that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture for proceeds obtained from the offense.

According to the indictment, beginning at least as early as August 2017, Richards conspired with an unindicted coconspirator to obtain and traffic in illicit labels designed to be affixed to Microsoft software products. Richards sent wire transfers and payments totaling at least $5.14 million during that time to a company owned by the unindicted coconspirator to pay for and acquire software products. Richards also trafficked in Microsoft product activation keys that she or her company were not authorized to sell and obtained proceeds totaling $1,000 or more as a result in calendar years 2020 and 2022. Richards similarly possessed 15 or more unauthorized Microsoft product activation keys on March 8, 2023.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Risha Asokan and Trial Attorney Jared S. Hosid of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.