New Jersey Jury Convicts Two in Debit Scheme

A federal jury in New Jersey has convicted two Florida men in a scheme to defraud banks and their account holders of millions of dollars through unauthorized debits of customers' accounts. Robert Sacks of Miami Beach, Fla., and Diego Hernandez, a Venezuelan citizen living in Miami, were convicted Tuesday on all 42 counts contained in a federal indictment. The charges include mail fraud, wire fraud, identity theft and conspiracy. Both men face lengthy prison terms. The government is seeking forfeiture of $7 million in cash and assets illegally gained. Prosecutors say the defendants pretended to operate a telemarketing business, using it as a front to try to withdraw funds from more than 100,000 bank accounts they were able to access through other conspirators. Posted in: Debit Card Fraud