Maryland Fraudster Pleads Guilty to Receiving and Selling Fraudulently Obtained Cell Phones Worth More Than $500,000

Baltimore, Maryland – Danisha Thomas, age 39, of Bladensburg, Maryland, pleaded responsible yesterday to federal expenses of wire fraud and aggravated identification theft, associated to a scheme to obtain and promote cell telephones that had been fraudulently obtained utilizing the figuring out data of no less than 24 victims.

The responsible plea was introduced by Erek L. Barron, United States Legal professional for the District of Maryland and Postal Inspector in Cost Damon E. Wooden of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

In line with her responsible plea and courtroom paperwork, between July 2019 and March 2020, Thomas was a part of a conspiracy to acquire new cell telephones by opening new cellular phone service accounts or upgrading current accounts within the names of particular person identification theft victims with out the victims’ information or permission, then promoting the cell telephones to others for a revenue.

Particularly, co-defendants Chantelle Harris and Robert Patterson had been employed by a third-party vendor contracted to deal with wi-fi telephone transactions, together with gross sales and telephone upgrades for Walmart.  Harris and Patterson, who labored inside Walmart shops, admitted that they abused their positions by conducting fraudulent transactions in furtherance of the scheme and for Thomas’ profit.  With Thomas’ settlement, or upon her request, the co-defendants utilized for brand spanking new cellular phone accounts and for upgraded cell telephones on current cellular phone accounts within the names of identification theft victims with out the victims’ information or permission.  As detailed in her plea settlement, Thomas offered the victims’ personally identifiable data (“PII”), together with date of start and Social Safety quantity, to Harris and Patterson for this function, conscious that the victims had been actual individuals who didn’t authorize these transactions.  With Thomas’ settlement or upon her request, the co-defendants used the victims’ PII to acquire credit score approval and authorization for brand spanking new accounts for cellular phone service and/or to improve current cellular phone service accounts, then charged the acquisition of latest cell telephones to the fraudulent service accounts opened within the victims’ names.  Harris communicated with the co-defendants by telephone and textual content to coordinate the fraudulent buy and trade of the cell telephones and was noticed on video surveillance throughout and/or after every of the fraudulent transactions assembly with co-conspirators and/or receiving stolen cell telephones instantly from them. 

Thomas admits that the whole worth of the fraudulently obtained cell telephones was roughly $537,000.

Thomas faces a most of 20 years in federal jail for wire fraud and a compulsory sentence of two years in federal jail, consecutive to another sentence imposed, for aggravated identification theft.   U.S. District Decide Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for Thomas on September 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Chantelle Harris, age 34, and Robert Patterson, age 22, each of Hyattsville, Maryland, beforehand pleaded responsible to their roles within the fraud scheme.  Harris was sentenced to time served and Patterson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

U.S. Legal professional Erek L. Barron counseled the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its work within the investigation.  Mr. Barron additionally thanked Assistant United States Legal professional Colleen E. McGuinn, who’s prosecuting the case.

For extra data on the Maryland U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, its priorities, and sources obtainable to assist the group, please go to https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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