TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Imanuel Weston Ricardo Gayle, 18, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted for conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh, Northern District of Florida.

The three-count indictment filed today in United States District Court in Tallahassee alleges that Gayle used a portable magnetic stripe reader to steal customers' credit and debit card account information while he was working as a sales clerk for Home Depot on Northwest Capital Circle in November and December of last year. The indictment alleges that Gayle and his co-conspirators used the stolen information to create counterfeit credit and debit cards, which the conspirators then used to obtain cash, gift cards, and merchandise, through transactions within the Northern District of Florida and elsewhere.

If convicted, defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on each count of conspiracy and access device fraud. He also faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment if convicted of aggravated identity theft.

U.S. Attorney Marsh praised the work of the United States Secret Service, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Leon County Sheriff's Office, whose joint investigation led to the indictment in the case.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Winifred Acosta NeSmith.

An indictment is merely a formal charge by the grand jury. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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