Stacy Moore Indictment
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman
District of Rhode Island
FLORIDA MAN INDICTED IN RHODE ISLAND IN ALLEGED MAIL THEFT, BANK FRAUD, AND DEBIT CARD SCHEME
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence, R.I., today returned an 18-count indictment charging a Florida man with participating in an alleged scheme to steal debit cards and debit card PIN numbers from mailboxes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and using the debit cards at ATMs in both states to withdraw funds from individuals’ bank accounts without their knowledge or permission. It is alleged that the debit cards were ordered with the use of stolen personal identifying information belonging to the account holders.
United States Attorney Aaron Weisman, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, and Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Stephen Marks announce the indictment of Stacy Moore, 47, of Miami Beach, FL, on nine counts of bank fraud, four counts each of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, and one count of theft of mail.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, it is alleged that from December 11, 2018, to February 10, 2019, Moore withdrew funds from at least six individuals’ personal bank accounts at banks in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, with the use of replacement debit cards and PINs linked to the bank accounts. It is alleged that multiple withdrawals from each account were made at ATMs in multiple locations.
It is alleged that with the use of stolen personal identifying and banking information, replacement debit cards and PINs were ordered for each of the victim’s bank accounts via telephone. It was requested that the replacement debit cards and PINs be delivered via the USPS to the account holders’ homes. It is alleged that an Informed Delivery account through the USPS website for the each account holder’s address was established, allowing for notification when the replacement debit cards and PINs were delivered to the mailbox. It is alleged that Moore used the stolen the debit cards and PINs to withdraw bank funds.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, on February 19, 2019, USPS inspectors received a complaint from a bank fraud investigator that the bank had received a fraudulent request for a debit card and PIN replacement, and that they be mailed to an account holder’s home in East Greenwich. Postal inspectors surveilled the mailbox of the account holder and watched as Moore allegedly removed mail from the mailbox, including the items mailed by the bank to the account holder. When a postal inspector attempted to approach him, Moore allegedly sped off and was then involved in a hit and run accident a short distance away. Moore’s vehicle was stopped later that day in West Warwick, based on a police broadcast regarding the hit and run accident, including a description of a vehicle with Florida license plates that fled the accident scene. USPS inspectors responded to West Warwick and identified the driver as the same person they allegedly watched remove mail from the East Greenwich mailbox, and the same person seen in numerous surveillance photos taken at ATMs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts where numerous unauthorized withdrawals were made from individuals’ bank accounts using replacement debit cards and PINs.
A search of Moore’s car revealed clothing consistent with what Moore allegedly was wearing at the time of the alleged theft of mail from the East Greenwich mailbox, a USPS uniform polo shirt, approximately $11,000 in cash, and mail belonging to an alleged victim of the scam from Warwick. Earlier that day, an unknown person made $6,800 in unauthorized withdrawals from the Warwick account holder’s bank account.
It is alleged in the indictment that between December 11, 2018, and February 19, 2019, Moore made unauthorized withdrawals from at least six account holders’ accounts at numerous ATMs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, totaling at least $26,600.
An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bank fraud is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 30 years imprisonment, a fine of twice the gross gain/loss, and 5 years supervised release. Access device fraud is punishable by up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and 5 years supervised release. Theft of mail is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and 3 years supervised release. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory 2 years imprisonment, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed by the Court.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division Joseph W. Cronin, and Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Stephen Marks thank the East Greenwich, West Warwick, Barrington and Middletown Police Departments, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections for their assistance in the investigation of this matter.