Luis Ramirez, a 43-year-old from Mesa, Arizona, has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Ramirez was involved in obtaining and supplying sensitive financial information—referred to as “leads”—to fraudsters who used this data to steal from unsuspecting U.S. bank account holders. The information, which included bank account numbers, was sourced from payday loan applications across the country.
In addition to the 51-month sentence, Ramirez has been sentenced to an additional 120 months in prison for a separate case, resulting in a combined total of 144 months. The sentencing was carried out by Judge Cynthia Bashant in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The decision highlights the serious consequences of trafficking in personal and financial data used for illicit purposes.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the significant harm caused by those who knowingly provide fraudsters with personal information. The Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting individuals involved in such criminal activities, and the case underscores the broader effort to tackle financial fraud.
The case against Ramirez is part of a larger investigation involving related fraud schemes. Similar cases have been prosecuted in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where defendants have been charged with various offenses including bank fraud conspiracy. The Postal Inspection Service played a key role in uncovering and halting the fraud scheme, demonstrating a concerted effort to protect consumers from financial exploitation.
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