South florida school employee arrested in miami credit card fraud case
August 14, 2009
In Miami, and across the county, state and federal law enforcement authorities have been cracking down on individuals committing
credit card fraud. Credit card fraud occurs when a person uses someone else's credit card or credit card number and obtains goods, services or money with the intent to defraud. The most common cases of credit card fraud are using lost or stolen credits, manufacturing and using counterfeit credit cards, or fraudulently obtaining credit cards through the mail. Many a
Miami criminal lawyer has defended clients in the three of the aforementioned scenarios.
Last week a Miami-Dade school employee was arrested for credit card fraud and aggravated identity theft. Roshell Demps, was hired to assist Miami-Dade school system employees obtain employee benefits. She abused her position by using employees names and social security numbers to fraudulently open credit card accounts. Specifically, Demps used one Miami-Dade employee's personal information to open a credit card account and began racking up the charges almost immediately.
Demps received the fraudulent credit card in the mail and made the following charges to the card: $2,500.00 in Macy's gift cards, a $500.00 charge for a Toys R Us gift card, and a $750.00 purchase of a Sony television. Her arraignment is scheduled for August 19, 2009 and she faces up to twelve years in prison for credit card fraud and identity theft.
Demps began her employment with the Miami-Dade County school system back in 2002. At the time of the offense, she assisted employees in obtaining life insurance, worker's compensation and overseas healthcare benefits. During the investigation, law enforcement authorities conducted a search of her Miami apartment. The search revealed hundreds of names and social security numbers belonging to Miami-Dade County school employees.
Despite the hundreds of names and social security numbers, Demps can only be linked to opening one fraudulent credit card account. Upon the news of her arrest, the Miami-Dade County school system placed her on leave pending the outcome of the case.
Miami-Dade School's Employee Faces Fraud Charges, The Miami Herald, August 13, 2009.
