Boston Man Charged With Identity Theft in Scheme to Defraud Retirement Accounts

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The following press release was published by the U.S. Secret Service on Oct. 6, 2016. It is reproduced in full below.

BOSTON A Boston man was arrested today in connection with his role in a scheme to steal personal information and bank account numbers to withdraw money from retirement accounts.

Kevin Marseille, 26, of Boston, was indicted on identity theft, access device fraud, and conspiracy to commit those offenses. Marseille was arrested today and is schedule to be arraigned tomorrow before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein.

The indictment alleges that, in 2014, Marseille approached Jasmine Banks, who, at the time, worked as a customer service employee at Mercer, Inc., in Norwood, Mass. Marseille used Banks to obtain personally identifiable information and bank account information for individuals whose retirement accounts were administered by Mercer, a New York-based company which provides consulting and related services for employers, including administration of retirement benefit plans.

As alleged in the indictment, from approximately February 2014 to April 2014, Banks accessed customer account information from her computer and provided this information to Marseille via email. Marseille obtained the names, addresses, and bank account and routing numbers for approximately 270 Mercer account holders. In many cases, he also obtained account holders dates of birth and social security numbers. He further sought and obtained detailed account access information for four retirement accounts with substantial balances.

The retirement account information was allegedly used to load a prepaid card with nearly $20,000 in fraudulently obtained funds. Marseille then used the prepaid card to purchase electronic and other consumer goods at retailers in greater Boston, including Target and Best Buy. Intervention by Mercer and law enforcement prevented further account access and withdrawals. Mercer has cooperated fully with the governments investigation.

In March 2016, Banks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and

identity theft.

The charge of identity theft provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison,

three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss,

whichever is greater. The charges of access device fraud and conspiracy each provide for a

sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of

$250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Actual sentences for federal

crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal

district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Stephen A. Marks, Special Agent in Charge

of the United States Secret Service, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted

by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. DAddio of Ortizs Cybercrime Unit.

The details in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent

unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

--DOJ District of Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Secret Service

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