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Rapper Arrested for Card Fraud
bankinfosecurity dot com ^ | 1-2013 | Tracy Kitten (what?)

Posted on 01/16/2013 9:40:04 PM PST by doug from upland

Rapper Arrested for Card Fraud Alleged Fraudster Linked to POS Hacking Scheme By Tracy Kitten, July 13, 2012. Follow Tracy @FraudBlogger

A California rap artist has been arrested for his alleged connection to an international carding fraud and point-of-sale hacking scheme that involved thousands of debit and credit accounts.

The scheme, reported in June, is believed to involve two hackers who intercepted and sold nearly 200,000 debit and credit numbers they stole from restaurants in Seattle (see Feds Charge Hacker in POS Attacks).

Now authorities allege Charles Tony Williamson, a rapper known as "Guerilla Black," along with accomplices in California and Nevada, used stolen card numbers connected to those Seattle attacks to make fraudulent purchases, sometimes within hours of the numbers being intercepted.

On July 12, federal authorities arrested Williamson and charged him with access device fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 22-count indictment against him also charges him with conspiracy to access protected computers, conspiracy to commit access device fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

If found guilty, Williamson could face up 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the charges linked to bank fraud; 10 years and a $250,000 fine on the access device fraud and damaging a protected computer charges; and five years and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charges. The aggravated ID theft charges carry a mandatory two-year prison term.

According to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, Williamson is suspected of buying and fraudulently using credit and debit card numbers stolen in 2011 and 2012 from two Seattle restaurants whose POS systems were hacked. The attacks resulted in the compromise of more than 180,000 card numbers. Connection to International Scheme

In June, authorities indicted David Benjamin Schrooten, a hacker known as "Fortezza," and Christopher Schroebel, charging the two with intercepting and selling the stolen card numbers on underground online forums, commonly known as carding sites. Schrooten, of the Netherlands but living in Romania at the time, allegedly posted and sold the numbers, taking advantage of the prominent role he played in the international computer hacking community. Schroebel, his Seattle-based accomplice, was charged with actually hacking the POS systems.

Schroebel was arrested in November and pleaded guilty in May. He is expected to be sentenced next month. Schrooten was arrested in Romania in March and was extradited to the U.S. in May. In June, he pleaded not guilty to all charges. Williamson's Alleged Role

The indictment alleges Williamson communicated via e-mail with Schrooten and Schroebel, telling them he wanted to buy "dumps" of stolen card numbers "in bulk," which refers to the purchase of 100, 500 or more card numbers at a time. Williamson also allegedly indicated he wanted "freshly" stolen numbers, because they would be easier to use, since the cardholders would not yet know their information had been stolen.

According to the indictment, between Jan. 11, 2011, and Feb. 26, 2012, Williamson acquired at least 27,257 stolen card numbers, including those issued by American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Losses linked to fraudulent transactions have not been totaled. But authorities suspect approximately $150,000 in fraud resulted from the use of just 134 of those stolen numbers.

"Today's arrest shows that criminals cannot hide in cyberspace," says U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan. "We will prosecute all parts of the criminal gang - regardless of where they may be."

Follow Tracy Kitten on Twitter: @FraudBlogger


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: fraud; rapper

1 posted on 01/16/2013 9:40:14 PM PST by doug from upland
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To: doug from upland

rapping not pay too well?


2 posted on 01/16/2013 9:42:21 PM PST by GeronL (http://asspos.blogspot.com)
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To: doug from upland

Rap, rap, rap
They call him the Rapper
Rap, rap, rap
You know what he’s after


3 posted on 01/16/2013 9:43:29 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: GeronL

Musta confused it with ripping.


4 posted on 01/16/2013 9:54:32 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (How long before all this "fairness" kills everybody, even the poor it was supposed to help???)
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To: dfwgator

Why do they refer to those gibberish-spewing morons as “artists”? Sinatra was an artist-this guy’s a thug!


5 posted on 01/16/2013 10:03:47 PM PST by Frank_2001
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To: doug from upland

It’s way past time for race hate/gangsta rap to go. That is the fad from hell.


6 posted on 01/16/2013 10:17:38 PM PST by SaraJohnson
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: doug from upland

8 posted on 01/16/2013 10:28:25 PM PST by kcvl
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

To: doug from upland

A rap artist is in jail after allegedly buying and using thousands of stolen credit card numbers that were hacked from Seattle area businesses. The rapper, known as Guerilla Black, was arrested in Los Angeles Thursday on a 22 count indictment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Charles Williamson, 33, bought more than 27,000 stolen credit and debit card numbers. Williamson is accused of working with two other men who’ve already been indicted for hacking into computers at a restaurant in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood and a restaurant supply company in Shoreline. (My Northwest)

The scam reportedly lasted from January 2011 to February 2012 and earned Black roughly $150,000.

Williamson’s alleged conspirators David Benjamin Schrooten, 22, of the Netherlands, and Christopher A. Schroebel, 21, of Keedysville, Md., were indicted previously; Schroebel has since pleaded guilty. Prosecutors contend the young men stole and sold the credit card information, which Williamson put to use within hours of the thefts. Prosecutors claim Williamson received at least 27,257 stolen credit card numbers and stole at least $150,000. Williamson is alleged to have emailed instructions to Schroebel and Schrooten, telling them that he wanted to purchase “dumps”
of stolen credit card numbers in lots of 100, 500 or more. (Seattle PI)


10 posted on 01/16/2013 10:34:00 PM PST by kcvl
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To: doug from upland

Headline should read:

“Rapper no one has ever heard of arrested for fraud”


11 posted on 01/16/2013 10:40:42 PM PST by BuddhistConservative
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To: Frank_2001

It is jibberish and the way the women dance now a days to that music is crap. Thugs and prostitutes that is what I see.


12 posted on 01/16/2013 11:38:31 PM PST by funfan
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To: BuddhistConservative

Headline should read:

“Unknown Rapper steals,commits fraud to fund thug lifestyle”


13 posted on 01/16/2013 11:53:54 PM PST by Nailbiter
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To: doug from upland

I’m forced to have to endure rap at work at full volume by this kid who says he can’t hear it because of a damaged ear drum.Of course he plays the nastiest stuff that’s out there.The boss ignores my complaint be cause that’s what he also listens too.I have to push my ear plugs so far in my ears to help block it out.It got so unbearable one day,I had to clock out and go home and come back later in the evening when everyone is gone.


14 posted on 01/17/2013 2:34:53 AM PST by Uncle Meat
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To: Uncle Meat

Wow, I’m really sorry to hear that. I mean, from my perspective, (c)rap music ended my affiliation with most American music. I rejected the culture of rap and in the environment I was in, it was easy to immerse myself in Latin music and culture. So now I compare everything based on the excellent quality of Latin music. After over 20 years?... rap STILL SUCKS!


15 posted on 01/17/2013 3:19:33 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: doug from upland

“Guerilla Black”...............snicker


16 posted on 01/17/2013 4:04:21 AM PST by V_TWIN (obama=where there's smoke, there's mirrors)
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To: doug from upland

He may do 20 years in the clink, but it will all be worth it.

Nothing sells more than some real felony counts in that realm of music. HE’S LEGIT NOW!!!

Of course, being accused of Murder-1 would have helped more, or, for the best career boost - get a bunch of albums recorded and then have another rapper’s agent gun you down and kill out. Now that THE ULTIMATE in fame.

(and yet there are still conservatives that protect this garbage)


17 posted on 01/17/2013 5:19:09 AM PST by BobL
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