Florida Man Admits to Operating a Gift Card Draining Scam

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Yasmany Roque Cruz, age 34, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty to a federal charge of access device fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop of Cruz's vehicle, the Ohio County Sheriff's Office conducted a search of the car and found 748 gift cards. The investigation revealed that Cruz possessed the cards in relation to a gift card draining scam. As part of the scheme, Cruz would alter the gift cards so that once the cards were purchased by others and funds added to them, Cruz would be able to drain the funds from the cards and transfer them to an account he controlled.

As part of his guilty plea, Cruz agreed that he intended to cause a loss of approximately $374,000.

Cruz faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The United States Secret Service and the Ohio County Sheriff's Office investigated. The Ohio County Prosecuting Attorney's Office assisted.

U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.