Tampa residents face prison time for widespread fraud

TAMPA — A U.S. district judge sentenced two Tampa residents to federal prison for fraud and identity theft in connection with an elaborate credit card scheme that targeted an Indiana credit union and other institutions.

Altogether, conspirators in the case defrauded more than a dozen financial institutions and retailers, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Robert O'Neill. Plus, law enforcement officials, in total, identified more than 50 victims of identity theft in the scheme. The Tampa Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Indiana police all tracked the suspects' activities.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington sentenced Juan Miranda Amores, 44, to seven years and three months, and Yudelkis Portes, 31, to five years. They were each ordered to pay $59,897.84, the proceeds of the credit card fraud, according to the release.