BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Ricky Butler, 41 of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys MaryEllen Kresse and Jonathan Cantil, who handled the case, stated that between July 2013 and January 2014, the defendant conspired with others, including Randy Jarrett, Tamika Favors, Catherine Jarrett, Teria Baker, and Danielle Hamilton, fraudulently to obtain and use unauthorized access devices, namely credit cards, without the knowledge or authorization of the true account holders. Butler used the true account holders personal identifying information and account access information to contact financial institutions and have new or replacement credit cards issued to addresses in the Western District of New York and elsewhere. During the course of the scheme, Butler took over 59 credit card accounts. Those credit cards were used by the defendant and the other conspirators to make, and to attempt to make, purchases at Walmart stores and other retail establishments totaling nearly $1,084,000.
Throughout the scheme, the defendant controlled all credit cards, determined where all credit cards would be used to make purchases, and directed Tamika Favors, Teria Baker, Danielle Hamilton, and others to forge the signature of the name on each card to finalize purchases. Butler also maintained control of all gift cards purchased, directed all subsequent sales of the gift cards, and received the majority of the proceeds from the gift card sales.
Randy Jarrett, Tamika Favors, Catherine Jarrett, Danielle Hamilton, and Teria Baker have all been convicted.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of acting Inspector-in-Charge Ray Moss of the Boston Division; and the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Lewis Robinson.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 8, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.
--DOJ Western District of New York
Source: U.S. Secret Service