Rhode Island Man Charged with Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft Offenses

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment today charging HENRY FELLELA, JR., 61, of Johnston, Rhode Island, with credit card fraud and identity theft offenses.

As alleged in court documents, in March 2018, Fellela was released from federal prison following a 48-month sentence imposed in the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for credit card fraud, aggravated identity theft and other offenses.  Between September 2018 and March 2019, while he was on federal supervised release, Fellela stole credit cards from Connecticut residents and used the cards to make thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases at various retail stores throughout Connecticut.

Fellela has been detained since his arrest on a criminal complaint on March 8, 2019.

The indictment charges Fellela with one count of access device fraud.  If convicted of this charge, because of his prior conviction for the same offense, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The indictment also charges Fellela with one count of aggravated identity theft, an offense that carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years.

Fellela also faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Maigret and Sarala Nagala.