CALIFORNIA MAN INDICTED WITH ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD
JAN BREWER, age 35, a resident of California, was charged today by Federal Grand Jury in one-count indictment with access device fraud, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the indictment, BREWER was charged with possessing counterfeit credit cards. BREWER was indicted after he was arrested pursuant to a criminal complaint that was filed in this matter. According to the complaint, a private shipping company discovered a package placed in their custody for shipment from California to the New Orleans area contained 25 counterfeit credit cards, 2 counterfeit California driver’s licenses with the same individual depicted with different names and addresses listed on the licenses and a magnetic stripe reader/writer used in conjunction with the illegal coding of credit cards. The private shipping company then notified the United States Secret Service of the contents of the package and agents subsequently took custody of the package.
Also according to the criminal complaint, BREWER had traveled to the New Orleans area in a rental car and checked into multiple hotels in Jefferson Parish. BREWER then made several attempts to obtain the package not knowing that law enforcement had been notified. BREWER eventually took custody of the package on October 17, 2011 in Jefferson Parish. Secret Service agents maintained surveillance on BREWER after BREWER took custody of the package and recognized BREWER as the same individual depicted in the two (2) counterfeit California driver’s licenses found in the package. BREWER then attempted to escape surveillance. BREWER eventually fled to a hotel parking lot, abandoned the rental car and discarded the package in a women’s restroom.
BREWER faces a maximum of term of ten (10) years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 special assessment.
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service with assistance by the Kenner Police Department. BREWER is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Spiro Latsis.
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