Christopher Wheeler, 27 (Spartanburg County Detention Center)SPARTANBURG, SC (FOX Carolina) -
The U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said that a Laurens man was sentenced in federal court in Spartanburg on Wednesday.
Nettles said Christopher Wheeler, 27, pleaded guilty in to aggravated identity theft and use of stolen credit cards.
United States District Judge Henry F. Floyd, of Spartanburg, sentenced Wheeler to 32 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay restitution to the victims.
Nettles said that the evidence proved Wheeler frequently visited Internet chat rooms where stolen credit card numbers and personal identifiers of the cards' owners were posted, then used approximately 35 card numbers, names, billing addresses, and phone numbers.
Wheeler used Western Union's website to establish accounts in his name and in family member's names to s end money via Western Union, according to Nettles. Wheeler said he stole approximately $10,000 using the stolen numbers.
According to Nettles, victims reported the fraud to law enforcement, which discovered Wheeler's scheme. U.S. Secret Service, Laurens and Spartanburg police departments assisted in the investigation.
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