Merced Man Sentenced to Nearly 4 Years in Prison for $60,000 Credit Card Fraud

FRESNO, Calif. — Ruben Chavez III, 37, of Merced, was sentenced today to three years and nine months in prison for credit card fraud and related identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between April 2021 and March 2022, Chavez used, or attempted to use, more than 20 victims’ credit cards to make over $60,000 in fraudulent purchases at retail stores, including home appliances. He also changed the victims’ mailing addresses to his own address and created fake identification cards in their names to help further his fraud.

This case was the product of an investigation by U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.