EVANSVILLE – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of two Louisville area residents for their role in an elaborate scheme to steal innocent victims’ identity and make and use fraudulent credit cards. Roberto Moner, 30, Louisville, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young, 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 2017, Moner’s co-defendant, Adianez Herrera, 45, Louisville, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by Judge Young for the same charges.
“Identity theft is one of the faster growing crimes in the United States,” said Minkler. “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.”
In December 2015, the Jasper Indiana Police Department received information that a victim had her credit card information compromised. Law enforcement later learned that Moner 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 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.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, FBI and Jasper Indiana Police Department
“The success in this case demonstrates the investigative capabilities of the United States Secret Service and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners” said Paul Dvorak, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “Our developed partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as private sector stakeholders, enables us to focus our resources to uncover, investigate and prevent these crimes more effectively.”
“The crime of identity theft and the scams associated with it have become more sophisticated and pervasive. These individuals thought they could target a small community and there wouldn’t be the resources to catch them,” said W. Jay Abbott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. “The FBI, along with our federal and local partners, is dedicated to stopping these perpetrators and educating the public on ways they can ensure they don’t fall victim to these schemes.”
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.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with the District’s law enforcement agencies to detect fraud and identity theft schemes. SeeUnited States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.5.
