A Sacramento man who stole hundreds of credit card numbers and drivers licenses faces up to more than 12 years in prison after being convicted in federal court.
Michael McCormick, 29, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 12, a news release from U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott's office states.
McCormick faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison for the credit card offense and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for the identity theft charge, which must be served consecutively with the sentence imposed for the credit card thefts, the release states.
McCormick, who admitted stealing more than 1,500 credit card numbers and driver's licenses, also will be ordered to pay restitution.
McCormick was arrested in a hotel room where he was running the scam.
Authorities seized his computer, which contained thousands of credit card numbers, driver's licenses and other personal identification numbers, including names, addresses and phone numbers, the release states.
Authorities also found about 72 driver's licenses, 17 credit and gift cards and a black plastic file box containing files, receipts and evidence of fraudulent activity, the release states.
McCormick also possessed five California driver's licenses with his photo but different names and personal information.
Posted on the hotel room walls were worksheets listing stolen financial and identification information, as well as information about how to commit credit card fraud, the release states.
McCormick used the information to obtain credit cards to make more than $1,000 in fraudulent purchases, including renting hotel rooms and making online purchases, the release states.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Sacramento police. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office also cooperated in prosecuting the case.
Call The Bee's Niesha Lofing, (916) 321-1270.
