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A Raleigh man was sentenced August 25 to 36 months and 1 day in prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of North Carolina. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $158,866. Oris Eugene Ford, 42, pleaded guilty to the charges on September 17, 2020.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, from October 2013 to March 2016, Ford and others executed bank fraud schemes involving the use of stolen identities to open new bank and credit card accounts – or to take over existing accounts – and then make fraudulent purchases or cash withdrawal from those accounts.

“The first scheme involved the use of stolen Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to apply for new credit card accounts with Citibank. Credit cards were issued in the names of the actual victims, but with Ford listed as an authorized user,” stated the release. “A similar scheme perpetrated against Discover involved account takeover fraud. Ford or unidentified conspirators gained access to existing credit card accounts using stolen PII and passcodes stolen from actual accountholders. Once access was gained, the address and contact information for the accountholder was changed, and Ford’s name was added as an authorized user.

“Common to both schemes was the submission of requests for the issuance of new or replacement credit cards, which were mailed to Ford,” the release continued. “The cards were then used to purchase thousands of dollars of merchandise from Walmart, Best Buy, and other retail stores.”

From 2013 to 2016, at least 80 attempted account takeovers resulted in the issuance of 50 fraudulent cards, resulting in financial losses of at least $145,129.02, according to the release. Eight attempts to open new accounts were identified, three of which were successful, resulting in a loss of at least $10,736.98.

G. Norman Acker III, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan prosecuted.

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