Asst. US Attorney Davidson said, “Every year, financial fraud and identity theft cost people billions of dollars.” As the saying goes, criminals will use any knowledge they can get to carry out their plans and get rich. I want everyone to be careful and check their accounts and credit reports often for any strange behavior. If you do see something fishy, you should report it right away to the right banking institution and the police.
Heaven Noretta Robinson, 32, from Alabama was given 57 months in jail by a federal judge on October 16, 2024, for her part in a scheme to steal someone else’s identity to buy a car and add her name to credit card accounts without permission. Acting US Attorney Kevin Davidson and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Scott Fix of the Houston Division of the Postal Inspection Service announced the sentence.
Information about the fraud scheme
The fraud that Robinson committed happened between February and October 2022, according to court papers. During that time, she got into people’s bank and credit card accounts without their permission. She added herself to the accounts and had new credit cards sent to her address as soon as she could. After that, she used these cards to buy things for herself at different shops.
Robinson also admitted to co-signing a loan for a car using the name of a dead man. This was in addition to the credit card scheme. She took the stolen ID to a Montgomery car shop on September 17, 2022, and said it belonged to her uncle. The loan was approved, but the family of the person who had died had no idea about the plan and had never permitted Robinson to use his details.
Robinson finally took the plunge and admitted to mail fraud and severe identity theft on July 3, 2024. Robinson was given a 57-month prison term and told to pay $33,550.93 to her victims as restitution. She will also be under supervision for three years after she gets out of jail. Robinson will have to serve her whole term because there is no parole in the federal system.
