New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Counterfeit Credit Cards

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a New Orleans man pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit credit cards in order to make illegal purchases.

Izell Mayes, 24, of New Orleans, entered a conditional guilty plea for one count of possession of 15 or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices to U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay.  The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. According to the guilty plea, Mayes was riding in a car that was stopped for speeding on February 9, 2014 in Vinton, La. Upon further investigation, the car was searched and 50 counterfeit credit cards in Mayes’ name were found. Forty counterfeit cards under another name were also found in the car. Mayes later confessed to picking up the cards in Houston before traveling to Louisiana. He used the cards in department stores in Houston earlier that day. The last card used was in Baytown, Texas.

Mayes faces up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date of June 18, 2015 was set.

The U.S. Secret Service and the ATF investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard C. Parker is prosecuting the case.