Essex County, N.J., Woman Who Scammed Credit Card Numbers To Buy Luxury Items Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Prison

TRENTON, N.J. – An Essex County, N.J., woman who admitted using stolen credit card numbers to purchase $133,000 worth of high-end merchandise was sentenced today to 84 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Melody Macken, 50, of Irvington, N.J., previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano to an indictment charging her with unlawfully using credit card numbers issued to others without their authorization. Judge Pisano imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From February 2010 through November 2011, Macken acquired stolen credit card account numbers by calling retailers and store customers and claiming to be a store employee. Using the stolen credit card numbers and other personal identification information, she purchased items such as mattresses, appliances, electronics, luxury apparel, accessories and shoes – with a total value of more than $133,000.

In calculating Macken’s sentence, the court took into account a previous conviction and Macken’s alleged activities since her guilty plea in this case. While out on bail, Macken allegedly violated the conditions of her federal pretrial release by committing a new crime, following the same scheme, just months after entering her guilty plea. As a result, her bail was revoked and she was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending today’s sentencing. She remains in federal custody.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Pisano sentenced Macken to serve three years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $147,592 to victim retailers.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Maria L. Kelokates, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirley U. Emehelu of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: David Oakley and Mark Anderl Esqs., Perth Amboy, N.J.