Feds: Man Stole IDs From Internet Gambling Website
Posted on Monday, 23 of June , 2008 at 8:22 pm
NEW YORK—A Canadian who was employed by an Internet gambling website has been arrested for allegedly stealing identities.
Patrick Kalonji, 27, was arrested Sunday for his alleged participation in a large, Internet-based identity-theft ring. Kalonji allegedly served as a source of stolen information for an identity-theft ring which was engaged in (among other things) stealing individual victims’ personal identity information, sharing that information over the Internet with other members of the ring, and using the information to commit various forms of fraud.
Prosecutors said Kalonji, at certain times relevant to the charges, resided in Costa Rica, where he was employed in the credit department of the Internet-based gambling web site known as BetOnSports.com.
As part of the scheme, Kalonji and his coconspirators allegedly stole the private identify information of at least 150 victims from the Bet On Sports credit department and other sources. The stolen information included, in various cases, the victims’ names, dates of birth, addresses, mothers’ maiden names, social security numbers, telephone numbers, credit card numbers, and three-digit credit-card security codes. Co-conspirators then used the stolen credit card numbers and identity information to commit various forms of fraud, including using the credit card numbers to make purchases over the Internet.
Kalonji was arrested in Philadelphia after arriving on a flight from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a native of the Republic of the Congo and unti lhis arrest, lived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million if convicted. 6-23-08
Comments or questions? Do you have a news tip? Email us at news@northcountrygazette.org
Help keep NCG on the Web. Sign up today via PayPal for the NCG Daily News Digest. Or, patronize our affiliate advertisers to the right of this article. With every order placed through the NCG website, NCG realizes a commission. To make a donation to support the NCG investigate reports, please use the PayPal button on the website.
Category: Business, Consumers, Courts, Crime, Government, Internet
- Add this post to
- Del.icio.us -
- Meneame -
- Digg
COPYRIGHT 2007 - NORTH COUNTRY GAZETTE All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of the publisher.
