June 15, 2009

TWO INDICTED IN LARGE IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME

Property Seized after Execution of Five Search Warrants in Fresno Area

FRESNO, Calif.—Acting United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that a federal grand jury indicted ALFRED DARNELL FORD, 53, of Fresno and DONALD RAY JORDAN, 57, on Thursday with 24 counts: one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and identity theft, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of access device fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of identity theft, three counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of criminal forfeiture.

This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI with assistance from the Fresno Police Department, the IRS, California Department of Justice, Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, Clovis Police Department and Citigroup Fraud Investigations.

According to Assistant United States Attorneys Stanley A. Boone, Mark Cullers, and Kimberly Sanchez, who are prosecuting the case, from July 2007 to June 10, 2009, FORD and JORDAN illegally obtained the personal information of other individuals in order to obtain fraudulent credit cards. They used these cards to purchase merchandise at various home construction stores such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, and elsewhere in the Fresno and Los Angeles areas. They sold some of the fraudulently purchased merchandise to local building contractors for a percentage of the cost.

On June 10, 2009, law enforcement officials executed five search warrants in the Fresno and Sanger areas related to this case, seizing construction materials, appliances, fixtures, electronics, and other items. As part of the search, an almost completed 5,000 square foot home in Sanger was seized for forfeiture due, in part, to the fact that the home was built using the proceeds of the fraud.

If convicted, FORD and JORDAN face a maximum term of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud counts, five years on the conspiracy to commit access device and identity theft, 15 years on the access device and identity theft counts, and a mandatory minimum of two years on the aggravated identity theft counts. They also face a $250,000 fine as to each count and criminal forfeiture of real and personal property. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

The charges are only allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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For more information on federal criminal defense law, contact the Law Offices of Joseph Shemaria of Los Angeles, California.