Skimming Conviction in Texas Carries Hefty Penalties

A convicted skimmer, who recoded gift cards with stolen credit and debit card numbers and used the cards to withdraw money from ATMs, could face life in prison.

June 26, 2012

FORT WORTH, TX - A Texas jury has convicted a California man who participated in a multi-state skimming ring, which enabled the group to steal $100,000 and 38,000 debit and credit card numbers, the Associated Press.

Aleksandr Goukasian was convicted last week of four counts of unlawful possession of an electronic intercept device and one count each of unlawful use of electronic communications, engaging in organized criminal activity and fraudulently possessing or using identifying information. He faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced at a later date.

Goukasian€™s theft ring planted skimmers inside pumps in Mojave, California, Las Vegas, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston over several months in 2010. He then recoded gift cards with those numbers and used the cards to withdraw money from ATMs.

Two other suspects in the theft ring are awaiting trial in Houston while two others remain at large.

In a separate case, Goukasian was charged in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas and faces up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Learn more about skimming.

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