ATLANTA - Quentin Pickett and Cornelius Henderson have been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. Pickett, Henderson, and three other individuals were indicted for, among other things, stealing credit cards from the baggage loading areas of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and using them to obtain cash advances throughout metro-Atlanta.
“Identity theft is a serious crime and the stakes only become higher when thieves organize themselves to execute larger-scale, systemic frauds,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “These defendants allegedly sought to exploit the airport’s baggage loading processes and prey on unsuspecting citizens who depend on the mail to receive their new cards.”
“Pickett and others devised a scheme to steal U.S. mail by taking advantage of the access given to them by their employer,” said David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge, Charlotte Division. “Postal Inspectors are committed to protecting the sanctity of the US Postal Service and will hold those accountable that steal from innocent victims and profit from these illicit schemes.”
“Pickett and his conspirators were creative in their scheme to steal victims’ credit cards and defraud them,” said Kenneth Cronin, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “The United States Secret Service will continue to arrest criminals who use their trustworthy positions to violate unsuspecting victims such as those in this case. We will work closely with prosecutors to ensure these criminals are put behind bars.”
According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges, and other information presented in court: From December of 2015 until April of 2017, Pickett, Henderson and their co-defendants allegedly stole credit cards from the baggage loading areas of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and a private mail sorting facility. Henderson had access to the airport’s baggage loading areas, where he allegedly stole mail that contained credit cards. The stolen credit cards were being shipped via the U.S. Postal Service to the rightful accountholders, who were located throughout the United States. The indictment alleges that after stealing the credit cards, Pickett, Henderson, and their co-defendants used them to, among other things, obtain cash advances at ATMs and purchase high dollar electronics at a store.
Pickett, Henderson, and three other defendants were indicted on May 23, 2017. The other defendants are as follows:
Brandon Foster, 24, of Stockbridge, Georgia, who was employed as a bank teller and allegedly used his employment to execute or attempt to execute cash advances using the stolen credit cards.
LaSuhn Turner, 25, of Stockbridge, Georgia, who allegedly obtained cash advances at ATMs using the stolen credit cards.
Treyevon Herring, 22, of Forest Park, Georgia, who was employed at a private mail sorting facility where he allegedly stole mail that contained credit cards.Pickett, 24, of Jonesboro, Georgia, and
Cornelius Henderson, 23, of Riverdale, Georgia, were arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the U.S Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
--DOJ Northern District of Georgia