Two Dominican Nationals Sentenced for Large-Scale Financial Fraud in Rhode Island
Providence, RI - Two Dominican nationals, Juan Jose Rodriguez-Castro and Wilbred Armando Reyes-Castro, were sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Providence for their roles in a massive financial fraud scheme.
The Fraud Scheme
The suspects, who were arrested on June 6, 2018, during an armed home invasion in Pawtucket, were involved in a scheme that led to the theft of over 18,000 credit card numbers and the personal identifying information of thousands of individuals. This fraudulent activity resulted in nearly $1.3 million in funds being illegally obtained from various banks.
Discovery of Evidence
Upon their arrest, officers found several fraudulent materials inside their residence, including:
- A laptop computer
- Color printers
- A laminating machine
- A home-made ATM-style card reader
- American Express signature stickers
A subsequent search of the residence seized seven laptops containing the stolen credit card numbers, equipment to steal information at gas pumps, a mobile credit card reader, the inner workings of an ATM, a photo ID card printer, various cellphones, and numerous other items commonly used in creating fraudulent identification documents and access devices.
Fingerprint Evidence
Rodriguez-Castro’s fingerprints were also found on credit card skimming machines in at least two states outside of Rhode Island.
Sentencing
On January 20, 2020, Rodriguez-Castro pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and possession of unauthorized access devices. He was sentenced to a 41-month term in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Rodriguez-Castro was also ordered to pay $1,281,376 in restitution to the defrauded banks.
Reyes-Castro, who pleaded guilty on December 9, 2019, to aggravated identity theft, was sentenced on March 12, 2020, to 24 months in prison.
Reactions
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, and Craig A. Marech, Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence Office of the United States Secret Service, announced the sentences. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker, and jointly investigated by the Pawtucket Police Department and the United States Secret Service, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
“These defendants engaged in a significant fraud scheme that caused substantial financial harm to various banks and individuals,” U.S. Attorney Weisman stated. “These sentences should serve as a reminder that financial fraud is a serious crime and those who partake in it will be held accountable.”
Conclusion
These sentencings mark a significant blow to the financial fraud operation based in Rhode Island, with the arrest and conviction of two key players in the scandal.