Two Who Conspired In Identity Theft Scheme Sentenced To Nearly Four Years In Federal Prison

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two Louisville residents were sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell to 42 months in prison, for their roles in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Darnell Brown, age 28 , and Tierra Beans, age 30, received 18 months for wire fraud, to be served consecutively to 24 months for aggravated identity theft for a total of 42 months in prison followed by a term of supervised release for 3 years and ordered to pay $16,554.58 in restitution.

Brown and Beans admitted in court to using the personal identifier of a real person, to open fraudulent lines of credit at Best Buy and J.C. Penney and thereby defrauded HSBC Bank and GE Capital Bank. The lines of credit were opened in Louisville, Kentucky, to purchase merchandise causing an interstate wire communications. The total loss amount was $17,248.25.

The defendants agreed to forfeit two Apple Ipads, one Best Buy Gift Card ($200), two Olive Garden Gift Cards ($25), on J.C. Penny Gift Card ($350), three J.C. Penny Gift Cards ($500) and various fraudulent identification cards.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd and was investigated by the United States Secret Service.