The final of 5 Brazilian nationals charged by San Diego federal prosecutors for operating a nationwide scheme that concerned stealing the identities of rideshare and meals supply app clients has pleaded responsible, the U.S. Attorney’s Office mentioned Wednesday.
Prosecutors say that over the course of three years, the group stole data from victims’ driver’s licenses and Social Security numbers, used that information to create driver accounts for rideshare and supply corporations, then used, rented or offered these accounts, together with to individuals who in any other case wouldn’t qualify to drive for the businesses.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the defendants obtained funds from the businesses and laundered the proceeds of the scheme, which started in 2018.
When the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, the defendants shifted away from rideshare corporations when demand for these companies decreased and moved largely to meals supply companies, which have been much more profitable through the pandemic.
Prosecutors say that in addition to defrauding the app-based corporations, the defendants additionally stole and used the identities of practically 100 folks. The U.S. Attorney’s Office didn’t establish which corporations have been utilized in the alleged scheme.
Gustavo De Avila Moreira Farinha, 30; Tatiane Pereira Arantes, 38; Natalia (*5*) Rocha, 30; Leonardo Trulsen De Oliveira, 30, and Thassya Da Silva Alves, 30, have been charged final 12 months and have since pleaded responsible to conspiracy and aggravated id theft counts.
“As of today, all five defendants in this case have admitted their elaborate scheme to steal the identities of hundreds of unsuspecting victims, many of whom turned to food delivery services to survive the pandemic,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman mentioned. “Identity theft can be a nightmare of frustration and angst for victims who struggle to reclaim their good names. These defendants are the ones struggling now.”