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Tampa woman gets prison in credit card fraud ring that targeted mall

 
Published July 2, 2014

TAMPA — A judge sentenced a Tampa woman to seven years in federal prison for her role in an identity theft ring that stole credit card numbers from stores at International Plaza, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday.

Authorities said Danay Crespo-Rodriguez, 25, was part of a credit card fraud ring led by her boyfriend. They put key loggers on credit card terminals at some stores and used the stolen information to create counterfeit cards, authorities said.

They used the cards to buy electronics and gift cards from Tampa stores and sold the goods for cash. Authorities recovered more than 4,000 stolen card numbers and estimated the loss at more than $650,000.

Crespo-Rodriguez was sentenced for conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. She was also ordered to pay nearly $600,000 in restitution.

She pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2013, and was released on bail. She absconded the next month but was recaptured after she was arrested at a Tampa store on shoplifting and assault charges.

Other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty or were convicted. But one remains a fugitive.