BUFFALO, N.Y. — A North Tonawanda man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme that used stolen credit card numbers to purchase tens of thousands of dollars worth of gas, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced Wednesday. Kingsley Brown, 22, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., admitting to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is prosecuting the case, Brown, along with his co-defendant Cross Malik Williams, engaged in a fraudulent scheme between August 2022 and July 2023. The duo purchased approximately 570 stolen bank card numbers from various online marketplaces. Using a card-making device, they transferred the stolen information onto blank plastic cards with magnetic strips, enabling them to make purchases using the victims’ bank accounts.
Brown and Williams primarily used the stolen card information to purchase gasoline, which they then sold at a discount to others. The individuals buying the gas would pay Brown and Williams an amount less than the actual cost of the fuel, allowing the defendants to profit from the fraudulent transactions. As part of his plea agreement, Brown has accepted responsibility for causing $192,673 in total losses.
Cross Malik Williams, Brown’s co-defendant, has already been convicted and is currently awaiting sentencing. Brown’s sentencing will take place at a later date, where he faces the possibility of up to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the scheme. The case underscores the efforts of federal authorities to combat credit card fraud and related financial crimes.
