News Releases
PRINCIPAL
FENCE IN CREDIT CARD FRAUD CONSPIRACY
SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT
May 05, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias,
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and James
H. Byers, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announce
that RANDALL C. HACKLER, 41, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced today
by United States District Judge Willis B. Hunt, Jr., on charges of conspiracy
to commit credit card fraud and receipt of goods obtained with stolen
credit cards. According to the documents and information presented in
court:
HACKLER was sentenced to 27 months in prison, fined $25,000, and was given
three years supervised release. HACKLER was convicted of these charges
on January 11, 2005, when he entered a guilty plea before Judge Hunt.
The government's investigation in this case revealed that, over at least
the last five years, HACKLER operated a credit card fraud scheme in which
his co-conspirators, who were also prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office
for the Northern District of Georgia and who are presently serving prison
terms, stole credit cards from patron lockers at Atlanta-area health clubs
and then used the cards to purchase electronic merchandise, primarily
personal computers and digital cameras. HACKLER's co-conspirators would
then bring the fraudulently acquired electronic merchandise to HACKLER,
who proceeded to sell most of it over eBay, Inc.'s on-line auction system.
The government's investigation also revealed that, over time, HACKLER's
co-conspirators engaged in the theft of credit cards from health club
lockers located throughout the Southeast, with HACKLER continuing to fence
the merchandise over eBay. eBay sales records and other evidence reflecting
the scope of HACKLER's credit card fraud conspiracy establish that HACKLER
and his co-conspirators generated more than $1 million in sales of fraudulently
obtained goods.
United States Attorney Nahmias said, "This office, in conjunction
with federal and local law enforcement agencies, will continue to actively
investigate and prosecute criminal schemes involving the theft and fraudulent
use of credit account information. This includes cases such as this where
the object of the scheme is to acquire merchandise through stolen credit
accounts and to fence the merchandise over eBay or any other means of
electronic commerce."
This case was investigated by Special Agents of the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Paul N. Monnin prosecuted the case.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States
Attorney or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Criminal Division Chief, through Patrick
Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016.
The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for
the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.