RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that today in federal court, PA AMBROSE MENDY, 31, of Raleigh, was convicted following a two-day trial before United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The jury found the defendant guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and two counts of Access Device Fraud.
The defendant was charged, along with nine codefendants, in an indictment alleging a scheme to manufacture and use counterfeit credit cards. The indictment alleged that the defendant and others would acquire stolen credit card numbers online and encode them onto plastic cards containing magnetic strips. The indictment further alleged that the conspirators would use the fraudulent cards at Walmart stores located around the state to purchase more than $1 Million worth of Walmart gift cards. The indictment alleged that the conspirators then took the genuine gift cards to Sam’s Club stores and used them to purchase more than $1 Million in cigarettes and stored-value Visa cards, which could then be sold off for cash.
Prior to trial, various codefendants pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and Aggravated Identity Theft. The defendant proceeded to trial on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and two counts of Access Device Fraud. After a two-day trial, the jury found the defendant guilty of each charge. Three remaining codefendants are at large. These defendants are MALAMIN OUSMAN SONKO, SALIFU JALLOW, or ABDOULAIE FRANCIS LOWE NICOLAS.
The investigation of this case was conducted by agents of the United States Secret Service, with the assistance of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and numerous local law enforcement agencies. At trial, the United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys William M. Gilmore and Melissa Kessler of the Economic Crimes Division.
--DOJ Eastern District of North Carolina