Louisville, KY – A Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 4 ½ years in prison for aggravated identity theft, unlawful possession of identity documents, possession of counterfeit and unauthorized credit and debit card information, and possession of equipment to make fraudulent credit and debit cards. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, Bronson Meador, 35, of Hurst, Texas, who lived for a brief time in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, engaged in a months-long scheme in 2021 to obtain and use counterfeit and unauthorized credit and debit cards and other personally identifying information and financial information of various real individuals for his own personal benefit. As part of his scheme, Meador would purchase and otherwise obtain counterfeit and unauthorized credit card, debit card, and other personally identifying information and financial information of various individuals, known and unknown to him, and then use that information to personally assume their identities and access the financial accounts of those individuals without their authorization. Meador would also use the information to manufacture unauthorized access devices, such as credit or debit cards, which he subsequently used or sold. When Meador was encountered and stopped by law enforcement in April 2021, while engaged in an act of aggravated identity theft, he was in possession of at least 16 identification documents, including driver’s licenses, social security cards and military identification documents, and at least 44 credit or debit card numbers, several of which he had recently used to make unauthorized purchases. In addition to the 4 ½-year prison sentence, Meador was also ordered to pay $66,592 in restitution.
“I appreciate the combined effort of the United States Secret Service, the Elizabethtown Police Department, and the Louisville Airport Police during the investigation and prosecution of this case,” said United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett. “The fallout for victims of identity theft is burdensome, costly, and often long lasting. I commend our law enforcement partners for their quick response in this case and their ongoing work to make the Western District safer for all citizens.”
“This case should serve as a strong deterrent for criminals considering taking part in identity theft and related fraud schemes,” said Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Louisville Field Office. “The Secret Service along with our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and arrest criminals who attempt to defraud and victimize our citizens.”
The United States Secret Service, the Elizabethtown Police Department, and the Louisville Airport Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Zimdahl prosecuted the case.
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