Maryland Man Facing Federal Indictment in Connection with Gift-Card Scam

Baltimore, Maryland - The U.S. Attorney's Office announced, today, a Maryland man is facing indictment in connection with a gift-card scheme.

Sharieff Tate Pierre, 36, of Randallstown, is charged with 21 counts of wire fraud and 21 counts of aggravated identity theft for using stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards. Pierre allegedly victimized 21 individuals, causing $53,300.49 in losses.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) - Washington Division, Executive Special Agent in Charge Kathleen Woodson, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office, and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).

According to court documents, in July 2021, USPIS, USPS-OIG, and BCPD began investigating Pierre after a financial institution filed a complaint. The financial institution stated that some of its cardholders in Maryland did not receive their credit cards in the mail. Then unauthorized charges were subsequently made on those accounts.

As stated in the indictment, Pierre obtained credit cards from victim institutions intended for other individuals. He used the names and dates of birth of the credit-card holders, without lawful authority, and illegally purchased gift cards. Pierre then used Western Union to transfer the cash value balance of fraudulently purchased gift cards to cash. Additionally, Pierre used personally identifiable information to obtain lines of credit from financial institutions to purchase and register vehicles without the victim's knowledge.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

If convicted, Pierre faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and up to two years for each count of aggravated identity theft. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, USPS-OIG, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Higgins and Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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