Charlotte Man Found Guilty of Credit Card Fraud and Weapons Possession

Columbia, South Carolina - United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Lonnie Eugene Hames, age 28, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was found guilty after jury trial of conspiracy to commit credit card fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(b)(2) and of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(1). According to testimony presented during the trial, Hames and his co-defendant were responsible for the theft of a federal officer’s service weapon and credit cards from a vehicle in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Agents tracked the pair by following their use of the stolen credit cards to businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina. When apprehended, Hames and his co-defendant were found with the stolen firearm and other fraudulent credit cards.

Sentencing in the case has not yet been scheduled, but Hames faces a maximum penalty of ten years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by Special Agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office.

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