Fichidzhyan built devices, called ‘skimmers’, that were used to steal customers’ financial information during transactions, the US Attorney’s Office said. His accomplices broke into gas pumps around Southern California and installed the devices. — Photo by Dawn McDonald on Unsplash
A man built electronic devices that were secretly installed at dozens of gas stations to skim customers’ credit and debit card information, according to US federal prosecutors.
Robert Fichidzhyan, 40, of Los Angeles was sentenced on Jan 9 to more than three years in prison, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office of Southern California.
Fichidzhyan built devices, called “skimmers”, that were used to steal customers’ financial information during transactions, the US Attorney’s Office said. His accomplices broke into gas pumps around Southern California and installed the devices. Seven other defendants are charged in the conspiracy, according to the release.
Once Fichidzhyan and his co-conspirators got the financial information, which included electronic serial numbers, personal identification numbers and other types of bank and account information, they would create “unauthorised access devices” that could be used to withdraw cash or make purchases from their victims’ accounts, according to an indictment.
The conspiracy began on an unknown date, but no later than Feb 27, 2017, and ran until at least Sept 9, 2021, according to court documents.
Fichidzhyan’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
Altogether, Fichidzhyan and his co-conspirators stole at least US$619,923 (RM2.71mil) during the time period he was involved, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
Fichidzhyan said he received US$249,890 (RM1.09mil) personally from the scheme, the release says.
He was ordered to forfeit that sum and help his co-defendants to pay the entire US$619,923 (RM2.71mil) back to victims in restitution, according to the release.
Fichidzhyan was charged with conspiracy to use unauthorised access devices and possess device-making equipment, the release says. He was sentenced to 41 months in prison. – The Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service
