ATLANTA—Two Atlanta men and others were sentenced to federal prison after engaging in identity theft and stolen credit cards that were then used to buy millions of dollars’ worth of cigarettes.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Mamadou Sow, Demarcus Myree, Boubacar Tivalo, and Jacob James were sentenced for using fraudulent credit cards at metro Atlanta Sam’s Club to purchase the cigarettes.
The four men obtained Sam’s Club membership cards in their names and aliases, with the U.S. attorney saying from September 2018 through November 2018, the defendants used dozens of stolen credit cards to buy$1.7 million worth of cigarettes at multiple Sam’s Clubs throughout metro Atlanta.
“Identity theft wreaks havoc on the lives of individuals and compromises the financial security of victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. “The sentences reflect the egregiousness of their conduct and the harm caused to dozens of victims, including individuals, financial institutions, and the retail establishments.”
The Defendants
The defendants have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross as follows:
• Demarcus Myree, a/k/a Yuri Markosov, 27, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison for access device fraud and possession of a stolen firearm, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $339,545.42. Myree was convicted on these charges on June 26, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.
• Jacob James, a/k/a Mark Johnson and Joe Johnson, 31, was sentenced to two years in prison for access device fraud, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $635,242.75. James was convicted on these charged on November 24, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.
• Mamadou Sow, a/k/a Moussa Sow, 30, of Guinea, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison for access device fraud, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $749,772.31. Sow was convicted on these charges on July 23, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.
• Boubacar Tivalo, a/k/a Tivado Boubacar, 46, of Guinea, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison for access device fraud, to be followed by two consecutive years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. He was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $664,305.52. Tivalo was convicted on these charges on September 10, 2019, after he pleaded guilty.