Fake Credit Card, Identity Theft Scheme Lead To Prison Term

TAMPA, FL — A 40-year-old Tampa man has pleaded guilty to fraud and aggravated identity theft after investigators said they found equipment in his Town 'N' Country home to manufacture fake credit cards.

Yonasky Fernandez Rosa faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for access device fraud and a consecutive two-year minimum mandatory prison term for aggravated identity theft. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

In 2018, Rosa was convicted of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft in federal court in Ohio. After serving 22 months in prison, his supervised release was transferred to the Middle District of Florida, during which prosecutors said he continued to commit identity theft and access device fraud.

On April 6, 2021, Rosa used a victim’s personal information to purchase gas at a Circle-K gas station in Plant City. The victim told law enforcement that he did not know Rosa, did not authorize the purchase and did not give Rosa permission to possess his personal information.

On June 2, 2021, during a search of Rosa’s home, law enforcement officers discovered device-making equipment, including magnetic stripe encoders and skimmers, and hundreds of credit card numbers, cardholder names and PINs on Rosa’s laptop computer.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol.