Shemeka Roschella Davis, a Baton Rouge woman, was sentenced to five years in prison today after pleading guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Davis was ordered to pay restitution of $83,314 to banks and individuals who lost money as a result of her crimes. Davis admitted to obtaining 15 credit cards in the names of other people and making unauthorized purchases of approximately $50,000. In return for her guilty plea, prosecutors dropped additional felony charges against Davis.
Identity theft is the intentional use or possession or transfer or attempted use with fraudulent intent by any person of any personal identifying information of another person to obtain, possess, or transfer, whether contemporaneously or not, credit, money, goods, services, or any thing else of value without the authorization or consent of the other person.
Bank fraud is when one obtains any of the monies, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by or under the custody or control of a financial institution by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, practices, transactions, representations, or promises.
Davis’ indictment and plea agreement showed she worked at a Baton Rouge call center for a company that provides customer support and billing services for other companies across the country. Davis obtained customers’ names and personal identification numbers. These victims whose personal information was stolen ranged from prospective LSU students and other Baton Rouge residents to people from around the country.
Furthermore, Davis conveyed purchases she made with credit cards in other people’s names. Those purchases included clothing, a 50-inch high-definition television, washer, dryer, computer, printer and air conditioner.
If you or someone you know has been charged with theft, fraud or other related felonies in Louisiana, contact Baton Rouge Criminal Attorney Carl Barkemeyer.
Source: The Advocate, “BR Woman Sentenced to Five Years for Fraud”, November 29, 2011.
