Fort Lee Woman Admits Using ID Theft To Get $300,000: Officials

FORT LEE, NJ — A Fort Lee woman pleaded guilty to wire fraud after she charged more than $300,000 to victims' accounts in a scheme that involved her making Bitcoin purchases, authorities announced.

Briana Burford, 25, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in Newark federal court Thursday, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said.

Burford made four Bitcoin transactions from October through December in 2018. The Bitcoin were sent to accounts associated with carding websites, which are websites that traffic stolen credit card, bank account, and other personal information, Carpenito said.

Two phone numbers used to the complete the transactions, along with other telephone numbers, were used to inquire about the bank accounts that were later compromised, the attorney said.

On Aug. 31, 2018, one of the telephone numbers was used to contact a bank and inquire about an account; later that day, Burford, without authorization, charged a purchase of approximately $9,000 to that bank account, Carpenito said.

Burford faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, on the wire fraud charge. Sentencing is scheduled for March 4.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com