On October 21, 2017, Knight and Garrett were arrested by the Evansville Police Department following a traffic stop. During a search of the vehicle, officers found more than 83 different credit cards in six different names, fraudulent driver’s licenses, two computers, and a credit card Magstripe reader/writer. Knight purchased credit and debit card numbers from the Dark Web and used them to make fraudulent credit cards.
Knight was the leader of a group who used the fraudulent credit cards and driver’s licenses in at least 13 different states, including Indiana. The fraudulent credit cards were used to purchase Visa debit cards and gift cards for Lowes, iTunes, and other retail merchants. Knight, Garrett, and other members of the criminal conspiracy made more than 100 fraudulent purchases at over 60 stores totaling more than $107,000.
"Nothing good happens on the Dark Web," said Minkler. "Those who use the internet for criminal intent in violation of federal law will be identified and prosecuted. The U.S. Attorney’s Office seeks to protect individuals from becoming victims of identity theft and promotes businesses having safeguards in place to prevent fraud."
This case was investigated the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service and Evansville Police Department.
"Identity theft devastates people’s credit and can be time-consuming and costly for victims to restore their credit and clear their name after having their identity compromised," said Grant Mendenhall, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division. "This sentence demonstrates that no matter how sophisticated and pervasive a scheme may be, the FBI and our partners are dedicated to identifying, investigating and stopping perpetrators who take advantage of citizens."
"Cyber enabled Credit Card Fraud investigations utilizing the ‘Dark Web’ remain a top priority for the Secret Service," said Andrew Campion, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. "We are committed to protecting our nation’s financial institutions and the citizens of Indiana. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and Evansville Police Department for their cooperation and partnership in this case."
According to Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Sawa, who prosecuted this case for the government, Knight and Garrett will each serve three years of supervised release following their imprisonment.
In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to prosecute those individuals engaged in fraudulent activity and identity fraud through the use of bogus access devices purchased on the dark web other advanced technology. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan Section 4.5 and 4.6.
-- Southern District of Indiana