BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted two Georgia men for access-device fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Craig Caldwell.

An indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges GREGORY SIMEON and CLAUDELL RALPH PETIT, both 29, with possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices – credit and bank debit cards – and aggravated identity theft in Jefferson County in August 2015. SIMEON is charged alone with one count of each crime, and the men are charged jointly with another count of fraud and identity theft.

            Upon conviction, access-device fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, and aggravated identity theft carries a two-year prison term and $250,000 fine for each count.

            The U.S. Secret Service, Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa K. Atwood is prosecuting.

            Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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