Hogsett Announces Sentencing Of Five For Roles In New York-based Credit Card Fraud Ring

INDIANAPOLIS – Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that five individuals were sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt after being convicted of possessing hundreds of counterfeit credit cards as part of a credit card fraud scheme allegedly based in New York. This follows a collaborative investigation by the United States Secret Service and the Clarksville Police Department.

“The threat of identity theft is real, and it is growing,” Hogsett said. “That is why we have teamed up with the Secret Service and our local law enforcement partners to send the message that if you engage in this activity, you will be caught and face serious time behind bars.”

The five defendants sentenced Friday, November 1st, were all residents of New York. Judge Pratt imposed the following terms of imprisonment for each defendant:

Amanda Adam, age 21 – Sentenced to 24 months (2 years)
Trevor Hinds, age 45 – Sentenced to 30 months (2 years, 6 months)
Blandine Joseph, age 37 – Sentenced to 30 months (2 years, 6 months)
Tycia Peterson, age 27 – Sentenced 39 months (3 years, 3 months)
Paul Roberson, age 33 – Sentenced to 41 months (3 years 5 months)

The defendants all entered guilty pleas immediately before their sentencing hearings. In doing so, they admitted that on April 3, 2013, Roberson, Peterson, and Adam entered the Sam’s Club in Clarksville and attempted to use fraudulent credit cards to make purchases. Those transactions were declined, and raised the suspicions of the store’s security team, who alerted local law enforcement.

The three defendants then left the Sam’s Club, and store security observed them meet with defendants Hinds and Joseph in the parking lot. All five defendants left the parking lot and were followed to a nearby Red Lobster restaurant. Officers from the Clarksville Police Department were advised of their location and entered the restaurant, asking the defendants to exit for questioning.

A search of their vehicle revealed more than 300 counterfeit credit cards made out in the names of all five defendants. The vehicle was rented by Hinds in New York on March 26, 2013. Law enforcement officers also located counterfeit credit cards that had been hidden in the men’s and women’s restrooms inside the Red Lobster.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd S. Shellenbarger, who prosecuted the case for the government, Judge Pratt also ordered each defendant to pay restitution in the amount of $29,818 and imposed supervised release of three years following their terms of imprisonment.