Baltimore, Maryland: A 36-year-old Maryland man has been federally indicted for allegedly using stolen credit cards and victims’ personal information to purchase gift cards in a scheme that caused more than $53,000 in losses.
Sharieff Tate Pierre of Randallstown faces 21 counts each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Prosecutors allege that 21 people were victimised, with total losses estimated at $53,300.49.
The investigation began in July 2021 after a financial institution reported that several Maryland customers had not received credit cards sent to them by mail. Unauthorized transactions were subsequently detected on those accounts.
According to the indictment, Pierre allegedly obtained cards intended for other individuals and used the cardholders’ names and dates of birth to make unauthorized purchases. He allegedly bought gift cards and later converted their value into cash through Western Union.
Authorities further allege that Pierre used victims’ personally identifiable information to obtain lines of credit from financial institutions. Those credit facilities were allegedly used to purchase and register vehicles without the victims’ knowledge.
The investigation involved the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and Baltimore County Police Department.
If convicted, Pierre faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire-fraud count and up to two years for each aggravated identity-theft count.
The charges are allegations, and Pierre is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
