Washington State Couple Sentenced on Access Device and Firearms Charges

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Anthony Hanel, age 30, and Courtney Clark, age 33, formerly of Washington state, were sentenced today in federal court. Hanel was convicted of Illegal Possession of Access Device-Making Equipment and of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Clark was convicted of Illegal Possession of Access Device-Making Equipment. Chief United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Hanel to 46 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Chief Judge Gerrard sentenced Clark to 12 months’ and 1 day imprisonment to be followed by 2 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On February 5, 2019, officers with the Omaha Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a Dodge Durango that Hanel and Clark were travelling in. Following the alert of a narcotic detecting canine, a search of the vehicle revealed a credit card embossing machine, 43 counterfeit credit cards, blank cards (commonly referred to as “white plastic”), and 18 cards that were in various stages of production. Officers also found a defaced Sig Sauer 9mm handgun and a .22 caliber 1911 model handgun. Hanel is a convicted felon.

Resident Agent in Charge of the Omaha Division of the United States Secret Service, Paul A. Brandenburg, said, “We thank the members of the Omaha Metro Financial Crimes Task Force (OMFCTF) who worked hard on this case.  Credit card manufacturing and fraud is unfortunately a common scheme that effects millions of Americans and costs our economy billions of dollars each year.  We at the Secret Service and the OMFCTF are committed to investigate financial crimes, and together with the U.S. Attorney’s office, will prosecute the offenders.”

This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the United States Secret Service, and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.