Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)     COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Ten people have been convicted in federal court for their participation in an identity theft and fraud ring based in Columbia, said the DOJ’s office. Also, the DOJ said there are victims in at least South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, and New York. The following defendants have been convicted of the following offenses: Ronda Weston, a/k/a “Lisa Caldwell,” a/k/a “Lisa Baker,” 49, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud related to PPP loans.  Weston faces up to 20 years in federal prison, plus an additional mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any other time, forfeiture of assets and property seized from Weston during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Weston is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21.  This is Weston’s third federal prosecution. Kashon Harrison, 46, of Elgin, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. 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 prosecution. Michael Terrance Butler, 54, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Butler faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14. Kasaun Dante Simons, 27, of Blythewood, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.  Simons faces up to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property 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 prosecution. Monique Sherrie Corbett, a/k/a “Monique Sumter,” 52, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervision, and more than $37,000 in restitution. Stanzetta Teresa Johnson, 63, of Columbia, 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. Shakirah Khalidah Chapman, 28, of Columbia, 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 Drummond, 39, of 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, Florida, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervision. According to evidence presented in court, from at least July 2020 through August 2023, the defendants are accused of stealing personal identifying information of identity theft victims from the dark web, including the names, home addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and credit scores of victims from at least nine states. One defendant’s home was searched due to a federal search warrant, and investigators said the search led to the recovery of a ledger with 151 identity theft victims listed in alphabetical order. Agents recovered fraudulent identity documents and financial records from numerous conspirators, according to the DOJ. Investigators said Ronda Weston led the scheme and recruited others to participate. The conspirators used the stolen identities to manufacture fraudulent driver’s licenses, utility bills, pay stubs, social security cards, and bank statements using their identity theft victims’ names and credit but with photos of the conspirators on the driver’s licenses. They then obtained money and property through fraudulent means, including: A vehicle purchase scheme, where conspirators obtained luxury vehicles including a Jaguar, a Maserati, a Range Rover, RVs, pickup trucks, sports utility vehicles, sedans, golf carts, motorcycles, three-wheel side-by-side vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles; A vehicle title loan scheme, where conspirators obtained title loans from financial institutions in the name of their identity theft victims by claiming they were selling vehicles between themselves; A personal title loan scheme, where conspirators obtained personal loans from financial institutions in the name of their identity theft victims by claiming planned home renovations or the purchase of appliances; and A residential rental scheme where conspirators fraudulently leased and rented residences in the name of their identity theft victims but for their own personal use, often leaving the residence owner unpaid and a debt in their identity theft victims’ names. Each conspirator were responsible for as much as $650,000 fraud through the scheme. During the investigation, agents seized residences, real property, boats, vehicles, golf carts, cash, and other property that the defendants received due to 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, said the DOJ. A United States District judge accepted the guilty pleas of the defendants and will sentence the eight awaiting sentencing at a later date. All of the defendants will be subject to court-ordered supervision by the U.S. Probation Office following any term of incarceration. Categories: Local News, Richland Tags: Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina Department of Justice