Image: Department of Justice (DOJ)

Image: Department of Justice (DOJ)

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) – Ten people have been sentenced in federal court for their participation in an identity theft and fraud ring based in Columbia, the DOJ’s office said.

The DOJ also said there are victims in at least South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri and New York.

The following defendants were convicted of the following crimes:

• Ronda Weston aka “Lisa Caldwell” aka “Lisa Baker” 49, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud related to the PPP loans. Weston faces up to 20 years in federal prison, plus an additional two consecutive mandatory years at any time, forfeiture of property and assets seized from Weston during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Weston is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21. This is Weston’s third federal indictment.
• Kashon Harrison46, of Elgin, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. Harrison faces an agreed upon two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Harrison is awaiting sentencing. This is Harrison’s second federal indictment.
• Michael Terrance Butler54, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and aggravated identity theft. Butler faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14.
• Kasaun Dante Simonsaged 27, of Blythewood, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. Simons faces up to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of property and assets seized from Simons during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Simons is awaiting sentencing.
• William Charles Brown, 37, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Brown faces a mandatory two years in federal prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Brown is awaiting sentencing. This is Brown’s second federal indictment.
• Monique Sherrie Corbett aka “Monique Sumter” 52, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervision and more than $37,000 in restitution.
• Stanzetta Teresa Johnson63, from Colombia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Johnson faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Johnson is awaiting sentencing.
• Shakira Khalidah Chapman28 years old, from Colombia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Chapman faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Chapman is awaiting sentencing.
• Ashley Nicole Drummond39, from Lugoff, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Drummond faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Drummond is awaiting sentencing.
• Darryl Dewayne Dumas, 61, of Palatka, Fla., pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.

According to evidence presented in court, from at least July 2020 through August 2023, the defendants are accused of stealing identity theft victims’ personally identifiable information from the dark web, including names, home addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth and credit scores of victims in at least nine states.

A defendant’s home was searched because of a federal search warrant, and investigators said the search led to the recovery of a registry with 151 identity theft victims listed in alphabetical order.

Agents recovered fraudulent identification documents and financial records from numerous conspirators, according to the DOJ.

Investigators said Ronda Weston ran the scheme and recruited others to participate.

The conspirators used the stolen identities to fabricate fraudulent driver’s licenses, utility bills, pay stubs, Social Security cards and bank statements, using the identity theft victims’ names and credit but with the conspirators’ driver’s license photos.

They then obtained money and property through fraudulent means, including:

• A vehicle purchase schemewhere the conspirators obtained luxury vehicles, including a Jaguar, a Maserati, a Range Rover, RVs, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, sedans, golf carts, motorcycles, side-by-side three-wheelers, and off-road vehicles ;

• A vehicle title loan schemein which conspirators obtained title loans from financial institutions in the names of identity theft victims, pretending to sell vehicles to each other;

• A personal loan schemewhere the conspirators obtained personal loans from financial institutions on behalf of their identity theft victims under the pretense of planned home renovations or the purchase of appliances; and

• A residential rental scheme where the conspirators fraudulently rented and leased residences in the names of identity theft victims but for their own personal use, often leaving the owner of the residence unpaid and a debt owed to the identity theft victims.

Each conspirator was responsible for defrauding up to $650,000 through the scheme.

During the investigation, agents seized homes, real estate, boats, vehicles, golf carts, cash and other assets that the defendants received as a result of the scheme.

Some conspirators also obtained fraudulent loans through the PPP program, which provided fully forgivable loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide emergency relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOJ said.

A United States District Judge accepted the defendants’ guilty pleas and will sentence the eight who were awaiting sentencing at a later date.

All defendants will be subject to court-ordered supervision by the US Probation Office after any term of incarceration.