New york man sentenced for fraud conspiracy and id theft — gavel stock photo

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A New York man was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for his role in acquiring and using thousands of stolen payment card numbers, as well as other personal information.

According to court documents, from at least June 2016 through at least June 2019, Vladimir Michel, 34, of Brooklyn, and his co-conspirators committed various acts of fraud that resulted in at least $2.7 million in intended losses. One of the primary ways that Michel and his co-conspirators defrauded others was by obtaining and using thousands of stolen payment card numbers. Michel and his co-conspirators acquired and shared this account information by accessing illicit websites and using email and instant messaging platforms.

Michel and members of the conspiracy monetized the stolen payment cards they acquired by using the account information to purchase high-end merchandise and then re-sell it. For purchases at retail stores, the conspirators sometimes loaded the stolen payment card information into smartphones and paid for merchandise with their smartphones’ contactless payment features. Michel and his co-conspirators conducted fraudulent transactions across the United States, including at a number of retail stores in the Eastern District of Virginia.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Robert E. Bornstein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Charles “Andy” Penn, Acting Chief of Police, Arlington County Police Department, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Berrang and Nathaniel Smith III prosecuted the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Fong also provided significant assistance in this prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:19-cr-276.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.