January 5, 10

NEWS / Fresno Businessman Sentenced to 70 Months for Identity Theft

FRESNO, CA—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that United States District Judge Oliver W. Wanger sentenced ALFRED DARNELL FORD, 54, of Fresno, to five years and 10 months in prison and ordered him to pay $91,721.96 in restitution for conspiracy to commit identity theft and access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. FORD pleaded guilty on September 14, 2009 and agreed to forfeit his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck, $2,770 in cash, a 4024 square-foot home in Sanger on two acres, and over $46,000 in goods purchased with false and stolen credit cards.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Cullers, Kimberly A. Sanchez, Stanley A. Boone, and Deanna Martinez.

According to the plea agreement, beginning in July 2007 and continuing to June 10, 2009, FORD and co-defendant DONALD RAY JORDAN acquired personal identifying information, such as names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth and driver’s license numbers from many victims throughout California and used that information to obtain false credit cards. FORD and his co-conspirators would purchase various items from stores in Fresno and the surrounding area. They primarily used the stolen and false credit cards to make purchases to build and furnish FORD’s Sanger home.

The United States dismissed the charges against his wife RENATTA CARTER FORD; JORDAN remains a fugitive.

http://sacramento.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/sc010410a.htm