The defendants pleaded guilty Jan. 6. Prosecutors said all four foreign nationals entered the United States under false pretenses.
Prosecutors say the four along with two co-conspirators stole victims’ Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and home addresses to make fake driver’s licenses that were used to open credit card accounts in the victims’ names.
The fraudulent credit cards were from national retailers, including Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Williams-Sonoma, Dillard’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson sentenced four of the defendants from Southern California on Monday.
Kar Kee “Steven” Cheung, 36, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for visa fraud, possession of equipment used to manufacture false identification documents, and conspiracy to commit access device fraud, or credit card fraud.
Qian Guo, 37, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for possession of equipment used to manufacture false identification documents, and conspiracy to use a fake credit card.
Chongming “Ming” Wang, 28, was sentenced to one year and six months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and aiding and abetting credit card fraud in excess of $1,000.
Jiaozhu “Yanny” Yan, 30, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison for visa fraud.
A fifth co-conspirator, Sizhen “Rachel” Liu, 35, also a Chinese national and resident of Chino Hills, was sentenced Jan. 6 to more than four years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and using a fake credit card to make purchases in excess of $1,000.
A sixth defendant in the case, Hyun Woo “Scott” Jung, 30, of Ontario pleaded guilty on Feb. 10 to conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and possession with intent to use unlawfully five or more false identification documents. Jung is scheduled for sentencing on May 5 in Los Angeles.
The U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service in continuing to investigate the case, with the help of Homeland Security and the FBI. Local police in Alhambra, Arcadia, Bel Air, and the Maryland State Police are also assisting, according to prosecutors.
