Three Defendants Indicted for Their Involvement in Identity Theft Ring

       Montgomery, Alabama – Three suspects have been indicted in federal court for their involvement in an identity theft ring where the personal identities of various victims were used to open fraudulent credit card accounts without their knowledge, announced George L. Beck Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. 

       Patrick Rashaud Thomas (24), from Georgia, Patience Denise Minor (51), from Phenix City, Alabama, and Shameka Lashey Thomas (27), from Sylvester, Georgia, were all a part of this scheme.  Patrick Thomas assisted his fellow conspirators while serving jail time with the Georgia Department of Corrections for unrelated convictions. 

       According to court documents, the identity theft scheme was carried out by obtaining stolen personal identifying information and then using that information to apply for Capitol One credit cards under false pretenses.  They would then direct those credit cards to be sent to addresses used by other conspirators.  The method used to obtain the personal information of their victims is still under investigation.  The fraudulent credit cards were ultimately used for the personal benefit of the three.  Patrick Thomas would sometimes have proceeds from the credit cards placed on his prison commissary account.

       If convicted, each face up to thirty years in prison, as well as significant fines and restitution.

       An indictment is merely a method of charging an individual and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial.

       U.S. Attorney Beck would like to thank the following entities for their assistance with this case: the United States Postal Inspector’s Service, and the Capitol One Bank, N.A. Fraud Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bradley Bodiford.