News Release - Ringleader of ID Theft Operation Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Enter search here

Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

September 13, 2007

en Español

Print Version

Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Ringleader of ID Theft Operation Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

~ South Florida man used information stolen from TJX data breach ~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Miami man was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in an identity theft ring that operated throughout the state. Irving Escobar was also ordered to pay nearly $600,000 in restitution for leading the criminal operation that used personally identifiable information stolen from the TJX data breach in December 2006. Escobar and several codefendants were prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

“Having personally witnessed the devastation identity theft can cause on so many levels, I have pledged the full strength of my office to prosecute these criminal operations and shut them down so we can protect our citizens from this terrible form of victimization,” said Attorney General McCollum.

A criminal investigation conducted by the Gainesville Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement revealed a complex operation that was using counterfeit cards with stolen credit card data. Leading the operation, Escobar coordinated the use of these cards to purchase gift cards at Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club. The defendants then redeemed these gift cards to purchase jewelry and electronic equipment – a modern-day version of money laundering. Authorities estimated a total loss of $3 million could be attributed to Escobar and his co-defendants on a nationwide scale. He was arrested in March of 2007.

In January, TJX Companies, Inc., the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods and A.J. Wright stores, reported that hackers broke into a system that managed credit and debit card transactions as well as checks and merchandise returns. The company believes it may never be possible to determine the exact number of individuals whose personal information was stolen. Authorities believe Escobar and his codefendants acquired the stolen data and used it to re-code the counterfeit credit cards which were then used to purchase the gift cards.

Escobar pleaded guilty to charges of organized scheme to defraud in March. His codefendants have also pleaded guilty to similar charges involving organized fraud and grand theft. Codefendants Dianelly Hernandez, Julio Alberti, Reinier Alvarez and Zenia Llorente were all sentenced to probation in August. Escobar’s mother, Nair Alvarez, pleaded guilty in March and was deported to Venezuela.