Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
A 35-year-old unemployed Gainesville man is accused of devising a scheme to use dark web-bought identification information to rent hotel rooms and then sublease the rooms to people for illicit activity, according to Gainesville police.
The man faces 11 fraud-related charges and two counts of using a communications device — his cell phone — to commit a felony.
He allegedly schemed to scam the Hampton Inn at 101 SE First Ave. in Gainesville, as well as a Doubletree by Hilton, also in Gainesville, the report said.
In at least two cases, police claim he sent bogus letters to hotels attempting to secure accommodations, suggesting that GEICO and AAA were paying for rooms, when they were not, the report said.
The total damages from the scheme for two victims whose credit card information was stolen and used allegedly by the man came to $3,005.69, his arrest report said.
The alleged fraud began early in 2018 and continued through March, the report said.
The man was arrested Friday.
Fraud charges are very serious matters and are usually the result of in depth police investigations. The penalties for a conviction are very serious. You could be looking at decades-long prison sentences and pretty large fines. If you have been charged with any type of fraud, it is critical that you enlist the help of an expert Alachua County Criminal Defense Lawyer at Whittel & Melton to protect your rights.
We are extremely experienced in complicated legal defense cases involving white collar crimes, such as fraud. You can rest assured that we will give your case the personal attention it deserves, as well as examine all evidence thoroughly, and come up with an aggressive legal strategy to protect your rights.
If you are facing a serious felony, let us help you through this difficult time. Call us today at 352-264-7800 or contact us online for a free consultation.