Man sentenced in credit card scam orchestrated behind prison bars
A man who pleaded guilty to orchestrating a bank fraud scheme from behind bars in a California state prison was sentenced today to eight years in federal custody, authorities said.
Morocco Curry, 37, also known as Monica Dupree, was serving a three-year sentence at Centinela prison in Imperial after pleading guilty to bank fraud and identity theft charges in state court, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles.
While doing his time at Centinela, Curry obtained credit card numbers and other information on at least four victims, prosecutors said. Curry then made three-way telephone calls to conspirators outside the prison, and they contacted credit card issuers and asked them to send replacement credit cards.
Credit card companies lost more than $139,000 from the scheme, according to prosecutors.
The case was investigated by a task force sponsored by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
-- Robert J. Lopez
Morocco Curry, 37, also known as Monica Dupree, was serving a three-year sentence at Centinela prison in Imperial after pleading guilty to bank fraud and identity theft charges in state court, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles.
While doing his time at Centinela, Curry obtained credit card numbers and other information on at least four victims, prosecutors said. Curry then made three-way telephone calls to conspirators outside the prison, and they contacted credit card issuers and asked them to send replacement credit cards.
Credit card companies lost more than $139,000 from the scheme, according to prosecutors.
The case was investigated by a task force sponsored by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
-- Robert J. Lopez
EDITOR'S PICKS:
YES! Just what we're all paying for...those Union Guards that supervise the States Prisoners! The single most powerful Union in the State at it's finest!
Posted by: OC Al | January 25, 2010 at 06:56 PM
Would someone who works at one of these credit card companies please comment on how and why you will send any yahoo in America a 'replacement' credit card just for the asking?
This is the equivalent of me walking into a bank with no ID or ATM card and withdrawing from any account I please. No really, I'm Megan Fox. I Promise.
I'd say these credit card issuers deserve the $139,000 loss, but I think everyone is fully aware that it's the customers who make up for those losses in fees and service charges.
Posted by: Josh | January 25, 2010 at 08:10 PM
Work! Rupaul hasd struck again!
Posted by: RUpaul | January 25, 2010 at 09:02 PM
ALL this from behind prison bars. When we in California get the message and get the death penalty back on track to finally stop this criminals.
Posted by: A Concerned American | January 25, 2010 at 11:42 PM
Monica?
Posted by: JRotten | January 27, 2010 at 09:52 PM
Our prisons are so over crowded. I sure hope this guy is one of those "reformed," less likely recidvests that will soon be back on the streets to prey on the citizens of California.
I hope he gets a hold of Nancy's bank account. She doesn't need it anyway, the way she's ripping people off nationwide.
Posted by: jwzalesky | January 28, 2010 at 06:57 AM