South Florida Man Pled Guilty to Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Scheme

South Florida man pled guilty to identity theft scheme. 

Ariana Fajardo Orshan, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Michael J. De Palma, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Bryan Pegues, Chief, Aventura Police Department, made the announcement. 

Wensley Edmond, 30, pled guilty to one count of unauthorized access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  According to court documents, on February 27, 2015, Aventura Police Department officers arrested Edmond and found credit cards and debit cards in other individuals’ names on Edmond’s person.  Additionally, Aventura Police Department officers found prepaid card envelopes with the handwritten names of other individuals, six different debit cards with card numbers that matched income tax return refunds issued in other individuals’ names, an ATM receipt utilizing one of the aforementioned cards at a different bank location earlier that same day, and approximately $6,000 in cash, in Edmond’s car.  The victims did not give anyone permission to use their personal identification information, to use cards in their name, or to withdraw money using the cards in their names.

Edmond is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2019 at 11:30 a.m., before U.S. District Judge Joan A. Lenard.  Edmond faces up to 12 years in prison. 

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI and the Aventura Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederic Shadley.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.