Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest and indictment of Darius Lopez (27, Tampa) charging him with one count of access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Lopez faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the fraud count and a consecutive 2 years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count.
According to court records, on April 13, 2021, Lopez purchased more than $27,0000 worth of landscaping equipment from a tractor dealer in Citrus County. During the transactions, Lopez used the unauthorized account numbers of four Department of Agriculture General Services Administration (GSA) Smartpay charge cards. The account numbers were fraudulently embossed on PayPal and 7-Eleven prepaid debit cards. GSA SmartPay provides services to more than 560 Federal agencies, organizations, and Native American tribal governments. Its payments solutions enable authorized government employees to make purchases on behalf of the federal government in support of their agency or organization’s mission.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General with assistance from the following agencies and financial institutions: U.S. General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General (Southeast and Caribbean Regional Investigations Office), U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (Southeast Region), Amtrak – Office of Inspector General (Central Region), U.S. Secret Service Orlando Cyber Fraud Task Force, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Bank, Synchrony Bank Special Investigations Team, and Morgan Stanley Corporate Security. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Nowalk and Tyrie K. Boyer.