United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FINAL DEFENDANT SENTENCED IN COMPUTER THEFT RING CASE

DALLAS — Loretta Denise Pearson, 42, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to 42 months in prison for her role in a fraud and fencing scheme that victimized Dell, Inc. and Citibank, along with several local businesses, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Pearson, who is in custody, pleaded guilty in June 2008 to her role in the computer theft conspiracy.

The lead defendant in the case who ran the scheme, Aynur Asya Aydemir, 43, of Allen, Texas, was convicted at trial in May 2009 on one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and nine substantive counts of fraud in connection with access devices and aiding and abetting. Aydemir, who was remanded into custody at conviction, was sentenced on September 25, 2009 to 96 months in prison and ordered to pay $276,489 in restitution, jointly and severally with the other convicted defendants. Another defendant, John Can Gurel, 45, who pleaded guilty in February 2009 to his role in the conspiracy, was sentenced on September 2, 2009 to 24 months in prison. He was to have surrendered to the Bureau of Prisons yesterday.

At trial, the government presented evidence that in 2004 and 2005, Aydemir conspired with Gurel and Pearson to open Dell, Inc. credit accounts through Citibank by using the names of real businesses, without the businesses’ knowledge or authorization. They also used bogus federal tax identification numbers to contact Dell by phone and order computers, digital projectors, digital cameras, and other electronic equipment and to charge those items to the fraudulently opened Dell credit accounts.

Aydemir recruited Pearson to assist her in the fraud scheme. Pearson opened fraudulent credit card accounts to purchase merchandise on credit from Dell, without the knowledge or permission of the businesses in whose names the accounts were opened. Pearson selected real businesses that were listed in the Dallas Better Business Bureau telephone directory, including New Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church, Mockingbird Lane Bridal, Badger B Studios, Dallas Steel Drums, Gainer Tax Service and Jackson Cleaners. Pearson used these credit accounts to buy merchandise from Dell by placing telephone orders to Dell for computers and other electronic equipment and having the merchandise delivered to addresses in Dallas that she controlled.

After the merchandise was delivered, Pearson arranged deliveries to Aydemir and Gurel at Atlantis Computers, a store that Aydemir owned in Richardson, Texas, and where Gurel worked as the vice-president and sales manager. Aydemir purchased the merchandise from Pearson at heavily discounted prices, paying for it by check or cash. At times, Aydemir and Gurel requested that Pearson order specific items from Dell using the fraudulent accounts. Gurel assisted Aydemir in receiving the fraudulently obtained items from Pearson and by giving Pearson instructions on specific items to obtain from Dell in future orders. Gurel also assisted in the scheme by reselling the items on eBay and over the counter at Atlantis Computers. Aydemir and Gurel also knowingly purchased stolen property from other persons in the Dallas area and resold it through eBay and to walk-in customers. Aydemir obtained the majority of the proceeds from the fraud scheme.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mark Penley and C.S. Heath.

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