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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that COREY THOMAS, age 49, from New Orleans, pled guilty to wire fraud, stemming from fraudulent charges he made in someone else’s name at local stores.

According to court documents, THOMAS used a victim’s personal identifying information to make fraudulent charges at Best Buy and several Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. THOMAS attempted the purchases on behalf of other actual customers, offering to charge the goods on a store credit card in exchange for a cash payment that was less than the purchase price. Under the terms of the plea agreement, THOMAS agreed to repay a total of $77,781.98 to Synchrony Bank, which issued the Lowe’s credit cards that THOMAS used in his scheme.

At sentencing, THOMAS faces up to twenty years in prison. Following any term of imprisonment, THOMAS faces up to three years of supervised release, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set sentencing for February 15, 2023.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses is in charge of the prosecution.