CHICAGO — A federal choose in Chicago sentenced the ringleader of a mail and identification theft conspiracy to 9 years in federal jail following a Homeland Safety Investigations (HSI) investigation. The sentencing follows the person’s conviction for stealing U.S. Postal Service clients’ bank cards from the mail and utilizing their private figuring out data to make unauthorized purchases with the stolen playing cards.
A federal grand jury indicted Davey Hines, 30, of Naperville, on one depend of conspiracy to defraud the US, one depend of theft or receipt of stolen mail, 4 counts of unauthorized entry system fraud and 4 counts of aggravated identification theft in February 2021 for occasions that occurred between June 2018 and December 2019. Ten different individuals had been additionally indicted for his or her involvement within the scheme as the results of a multiagency investigation dubbed Operation Money on Supply. The investigation recognized U.S. Postal Service workers who stole bank cards and different monetary devices and offered them to Hines and others in change for money or different gadgets of worth. Hines, who additionally recruited a lot of the U.S. Postal Service workers, then labored along with his co-defendants to unlawfully get hold of clients’ private figuring out data, similar to dates of delivery and Social Safety numbers, and fraudulently activate the stolen playing cards. Over the course of the 19-month conspiracy, Hines and his co-conspirators stole greater than 657 bank cards and made greater than $462,719 in fraudulent purchases.
“The success of this investigation highlights the significance and necessity of regulation enforcement partnerships,” stated HSI Chicago Particular Agent in Cost Sean Fitzgerald. “This calculated and cooperative strategy amongst federal, state and native regulation enforcement companions illustrates our dedication to guard the general public from these prison networks who search to revenue from defrauding the residents of our communities.”
Hines pleaded responsible to 4 counts charging conspiracy, receipt of stolen mail, entry system fraud and aggravated identification theft on July 8, 2022. On April 3, 2023, U.S. District Court docket Choose Edmond E. Chang sentenced Hines to108 months in federal jail to be adopted by three years of supervised launch. Chang additionally ordered Hines pay restitution to the sufferer monetary establishments that issued the stolen bank cards. Hines dedicated the offenses whereas on court-supervised launch following a previous federal conviction for financial institution fraud in 2015.
Fitzgerald, performing United States Lawyer for the Northern District of Illinois Morris Pasqual, Inspector in Cost of the Chicago Workplace of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Ruth M. Mendonca, and Particular Agent in Cost of the U.S. Postal Service’s Workplace of Inspector Normal, Central Space Discipline Workplace Scott Pierce introduced the sentence. Particular Assistant U.S. Lawyer Peter Madriñan and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Nutini and Kirsten Moran represented the federal government.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), accountable for investigating transnational crime and threats, particularly these prison organizations that exploit the worldwide infrastructure via which worldwide commerce, journey, and finance transfer. HSI’s workforce of greater than 8,700 workers consists of greater than 6,000 particular brokers assigned to 237 cities all through the US, and 93 abroad areas in 56 nations. HSI’s worldwide presence represents DHS’s largest investigative regulation enforcement presence overseas and one of many largest worldwide footprints in U.S. regulation enforcement.
Be taught extra about HSI’s mission to fight mail and identification theft in our neighborhood on Twitter @HSIChicago.