Grand Island Man Convicted for Possession of Fraudulent COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Bearing Official U.S. Insignia

United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Jason C. Olderbak, 35, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Lincoln, Nebraska, by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard for unlawful possession of official U.S. insignia. Olderbak was sentenced to two years of probation, a $3,000 fine, and 50 hours of community service. There is no parole in the federal system.

On or about July 30, 2021, Jason Olderbak purchased approximately 21 false COVID-19 vaccination cards online.  On August 3, 2021, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) received the package as it was entering the United States from overseas.  Recognizing the package as being similar to other fraudulent packages, CBP opened the package and discovered the 21 fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards.  A search warrant was received to perform a controlled delivery for the package.  The search warrant was executed on August 18, 2021.  Olderbak’s cellphone and other electronic devices were also seized during the investigation.  Later examination of those devices revealed web history consistent with the purchase of the fraudulent vaccination cards.

Legitimate COVID-19 vaccination cards are produced in the United States and are shipped directly to medical professionals alongside the COVID-19 vaccination doses the cards are intended to go with.  Each true COVID-19 vaccination card bears the seal of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which is a public health agency of the United States Federal Government under the Department of Health and Human Services.  The cards ordered and received by Olderbak were nearly identical to legitimate COVID-19 vaccination cards.  The seal/insignia of the CDC was affixed to the false COVID-19 vaccination card documents purchased and received by Olderbak.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.