PITTSBURGH, PA — Hector Ofelio Podio Gutierrez, a 31-year-old resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, December 21, 2023, to 12 months probation with six months home confinement for his role in a multi-state credit card fraud conspiracy. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Podio Gutierrez, who, along with co-defendant Yoandy Pou Torres, used counterfeit credit cards encoded with stolen bank account information to purchase MasterCard gift cards at Sam’s Club stores in Pittsburgh, as well as in Florida and California.
The court was informed that during December 2017, Podio Gutierrez and Torres used an encoding device to create counterfeit credit cards and then used these fraudulent cards to make purchases amounting to more than $382,000 at various Sam’s Club locations. Around $170,000 of these purchases were conducted at stores in the Pittsburgh area.
Judge Bissoon noted before imposing the sentence that Podio Gutierrez had led a law-abiding and productive life following his arrest and while on bond pending trial. The judge also highlighted his noteworthy support to his family and community.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Commending the investigative efforts that led to the successful prosecution of Podio Gutierrez, United States Attorney Olshan praised the United States Postal Inspection Service and the United States Secret Service.
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