BUFFALO WOMAN SENTENCED FOR ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED I-D THEFT

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Teria Baker, also known as Tiara Baker, 25, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to 34 months in prison. The defendant was also ordered to pay approximately $143,000 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney MaryEllen Kresse, who handled the case, stated that from October 2013 to December 2013, the defendant and others traveled to Walmart stores and other retail establishments in Western New York where they used unauthorized credit cards. The cards were obtained without the true account holder’s knowledge or authority. Baker and others purchased $500 store gift cards and other merchandise totaling in excess of $160,000. 

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Raymond Moss of the Boston Division, and the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Lewis Robinson.