Connecticut Man Found Guilty On Wire Fraud Charges For Credit And Gift Card Fraud Scheme

NEWARK N.J. – A Connecticut man who defrauded credit card companies of hundreds of thousands of dollars was found guilty on stolen goods charges today, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Nikolay Krechet, 47, of West Hartford, Connecticut, was found guilty on all counts on which he was indicted – one count of conspiracy to sell, receive or possess stolen goods and two counts of sale, receipt or possession of stolen goods following a two-and-a-half week trial before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court. The jury deliberated 25 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

Krechet bought and used millions of dollars of gift cards purchased with stolen credit card information. The substantive counts corresponded to the purchase of tens of thousands of dollars of gift cards in cash and bartered electronics for gift cards at a considerable discount off their face value.

The conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and the two substantive counts each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2018.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the director of Acting Inspector in Charge Ruth M. Mendonca, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Feder and Joshua Haber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Thomas Ambrosio Esq., Lyndhurst, New Jersey