On December 6, 2017, the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Task Force conducted a traffic stop on Interstate I-10 in Jackson County. De La Cruz, a passenger in the car, was found to be in possession of approximately 528 “Vanilla MasterCard” pre-paid gift cards in his luggage. The investigation revealed that the 528 gift cards had been purchased with victims’ money at wholesale club stores in Georgia and Florida a few days prior to this traffic stop in Mississippi.
De La Cruz was charged on March 5, 2019 in a federal criminal indictment. He pled guilty before Judge Ozerden on August 21, 2019.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service with assistance from the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones.
-- Southern District of Mississippi