Louisville Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud, Identity Theft

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - United States District Court Senior Judge Charles R. Simpson III has sentenced Louisville, Kentucky, man, Dennis A. L. Booker to 65 months in federal prison today, followed by 3 years of supervised release for six counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman. The Court also ordered Booker to pay restitution of $112,000 to the victim of his scheme. There is no parole in the federal system.

The Court sentenced Booker, age 40, for his participation in a fraudulent scheme between October 2015 and June 2017. According to a plea agreement filed in the case, Booker told J.M., the victim, he needed cash to close a real estate transaction, and promised to repay J.M. when the transaction closed. J.M. loaned Booker $43,000, which was never repaid. J.M. demanded repayment, and Booker promised to wire the money, but told J.M. he needed his credit card number to pay fees associated with the transfer of payment. Instead of repaying the victim, Booker used the credit card number to obtain cash advances at Churchill Downs and to pay for personal expenses, resulting in a total loss of approximately $140,000.

Booker was serving supervised release during the time of the fraud for a previous conviction in federal court.

Assistant United States Attorney David Weiser prosecuted the case. The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation.