A federal grand jury returned a 23-count indictment today charging Mordechay Altit, aka Michael Altit, aka Anthony Altit, aka Tony Altit, 33, of Elk Grove, with mail fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud and money-laundering, associated with his fraudulent use of debit cards and merchant and terminal identification numbers, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.
According to the indictment, Altit applied for debit cards issued from banks or other providers of debit cards in his own name or using the names and social security numbers of other persons. Altit then used merchant and terminal identification numbers issued to merchants and businesses across the country to cause fraudulent refunds and credits to be placed on the debit cards he controlled. Before the businesses could rescind these transactions, Altit used the cards to spend and transfer the money. Altit attempted to have at least $450,000 in fraudulent merchant returns credited to his debit cards.
This case is the product of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Lee S. Bickley is prosecuting the case.
DOJ press release link: click here