The sentencing of two Louisville area residents in Federal Court occurred this week, after their roles in an elaborate scheme to steal victims’ identity and make and use fraudulent credit cards.
In December 2015, the Jasper Indiana Police Department received information that a victim had her credit card information compromised. Law enforcement later learned that 30-year old Roberto Moner of Louisville, installed card-skimming machines at gas stations in the Jasper Indiana vicinity. Using the skimming devices, he was able to obtain information from the credit card and download the information onto other stolen or counterfeit cards to make illegal purchases.
Moner and his partner in crime 45-year old Adianez Herrera, used the counterfeit and stolen cards to make purchases worth thousands of dollars in the Jasper area for items such as gift cards, cartons of cigarettes, and other personal items. The investigation revealed that hundreds of individuals had their credit card information stolen.
Moner, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young on Wednesday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess counterfeit or unauthorized access devices, possession of counterfeited or unauthorized access devices, conspiracy to produce, use, and traffic in one or more counterfeit access devices, possession of device-making equipment, and aggravated identity theft.
In November of this year, Herrera was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by Judge Young for the same charges.
According to Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Sawa who prosecuted this case for the government, Moner and Herrera must each serve three years of supervised release after their sentences and make restitution to the known victims in the case.
US Attorney Josh Minkler said that “Identity theft is one of the faster growing crimes in the United States,” “We will not let advances in technology fall into the hands of criminals to take advantage of law abiding
citizens. Those who prey on citizens and steal their identity will be held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, FBI and Jasper Indiana Police Department.
