Identity thief gets more than 10 years in prison
An identity thief from Ohio, who stole hundreds of credit-card numbers to buy goods for resale and to rent rooms at a hotel near Philadelphia, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years in federal prison, authorities said.
An identity thief from Ohio, who stole hundreds of credit-card numbers to buy goods for resale and to rent rooms at a hotel near Philadelphia, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years in federal prison, authorities said.
Ibrahim Fofana, 25, of Columbus, accumulated over 500 numbers that belonged to others. With two codefendants, Fofana recorded those numbers onto the magnetic strips of credit, debit, and gift cards. The cards then were given to runners who bought merchandise to resell on the street, according to court documents.
Fofana was captured in April 2009 at an Upper Darby hotel where he had used one of the account numbers to book rooms. Fofana pleaded guilty in September to numerous counts of credit-card fraud and conspiracy. He was ordered to pay $10,178 restitution in addition to serving time, said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger. - Sam Wood