7 Year Sentence in Fraud Scheme

A Tampa, Fla., woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison for her role in a fraud scheme that compromised 4,000 credit and debit card numbers and led to an estimated loss of $650,000.

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Danay Crespo-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.

In addition to her prison term, she was ordered to pay $600,000 in restitution to the victims of her crimes, and forfeit $655,000, which represents the proceeds of Crespo-Rodriguez's crimes.

Crespo-Rodriguez aided in a credit card fraud ring, which was allegedly run by Michel Lermos-Hernandez, prosecutors say. The two, along with others, obtained credit card numbers by placing keyloggers on credit card terminals that intercepted and stored swiped credit and debit card account information at the International Mall in Tampa.

The conspirators then allegedly created counterfeit cards using the stolen credit and debit card account numbers, authorities say. Once the cards were made, co-conspirators used the cards to buy electronics and gift cards at Tampa-area retailers. The co-conspirators then brought the stolen items to another conspirator's house, who paid them in cash for the merchandise, authorities say. The items were then resold.

Crespo-Rodriguez pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2013 and was released on bond, authorities say. She then absconded from supervision on Nov. 10, 2013, and was recaptured after she was arrested at a Tampa-area Target store on charges of shoplifting and assault. Three of her co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme, authorities say.