FRESNO, CALIF. – Today, Christos Mavrokelos, 37, received an 18-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer for his role in a debit card fraud scheme involving skimming devices. In addition to his prison term, Mavrokelos was ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court records reveal that between July 2021 and November 2023, Mavrokelos engaged in fraudulent activities across Fresno and Madera Counties. He used counterfeit debit cards, loaded with stolen victim account information, to make unauthorized cash withdrawals.
The stolen information was obtained through skimming devices illicitly installed on bank ATMs and other card readers. This method allowed Mavrokelos to capture sensitive account details without the victims’ knowledge.
Mavrokelos’s illegal actions affected at least 40 victims’ accounts, leading to significant financial losses. The total calculated loss from his activities amounts to approximately $149,000. The affected banks were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, adding a federal level of severity to the offenses.