Louisiana Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Credit Card Conspiracy and Identity Theft

Louisiana – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced on May 26, 2022, that Lakisha Williams, 41, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today to nine years in prison by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe for charges stemming from her participation in a credit card fraud ring that operated in the New Orleans area. Williams had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of the third superseding indictment: conspiracy to commit access device fraud, possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices, possession of device-making equipment, and aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, Williams and her co-defendants conspired to steal merchandise and cash from stores through fraudulent means. The defendants obtained stolen credit and debit card information, encoded it onto cards, and then used it to make purchases at stores. The defendants would then return the items to another store in the same chain, but they would deceive store employees so that the chargeback would be credited to their own bank accounts.

Court documents also show how Williams traveled with other co-conspirators to various cities in the United States, including Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; Richmond, Virginia; and Charlotte, North Carolina. Williams had pleaded guilty and admitted to causing losses ranging from $150,000.00 to $250,000.00 as a result of her own and her co-conspirators’ actions.

Judge Ashe sentenced Williams to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit access device fraud. Judge Ashe sentenced Williams to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possession of fifteen or more counterfeit or unauthorized access devices. Judge Ashe sentenced Williams to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release for the charge of possession of device making equipment. All of these sentences were set to run concurrently.

Judge Ashe sentenced Williams to a mandatory two-year prison term to run concurrently with her other sentences, as well as a year of supervised release to run concurrently with the other terms of supervised release. Williams was also required to pay a $100 per count mandatory special assessment fee. Judge Ashe scheduled an August 4, 2022 restitution hearing to hear any evidence of additional restitution.

“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those, like Ms. Williams, who engage in fraudulent schemes that prey on the finances of innocent victims and businesses within our community will be held accountable.” said Leslie Pichon, U.S. Secret Service New Orleans Special Agent in Charge.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the agencies that contributed to this conviction, which represents a coordinated effort of federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force. The Task Force includes representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, New Orleans Police Department, Covington Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Kenner Police Department, Louisiana State Police, Mandeville Police Department, Slidell Police Department, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. John The Baptist Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. State Department, Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. U.S. Attorney Evans also thanked the Franklin (TN) Police Department, the Mobile Police Department, the Gulfport Police Department, the Minnetonka (MN) Police Department, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew R. Payne and K. Paige O’Hale are in charge of the prosecution.