United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW YORK MAN INVOLVED IN CREDIT CARD "SKIMMING" OPERATION IS SENTENCED

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that another individual involved in a large scale credit card fraud scheme was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet B. Arterton in New Haven. On the Government's motion, Judge Arterton departed from the Sentencing Guidelines and sentenced HEUNG MAN WONG, age 45, of Queens, New York, to five years of probation, the first three months of which he must spend confined to his home. WONG was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $851,612.45. Judge Arterton ordered WONG to pay restitution at a rate of $150 per month during his period of supervised release.

According to court documents, from in or about September 2001 to in or about March 2003, WONG and others engaged in a conspiracy to traffic in or use stolen credit cards. Working as waiters at various Connecticut restaurants, several individuals stole credit card account information by using "skimming" devices to copy credit cards belonging to restaurant customers. The coconspirators then used the credit card information to create counterfeit credit cards and engage in fraudulent credit card transactions. WONG has admitted to being a "shopper" in the scheme.

"The members of this conspiracy ring stole credit card account information from hundreds of unknowing victims," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "Credit card fraud and identity theft is a significant financial problem in our country and we will continue to work closely with all levels of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute all who commit these crimes."

To date, seven individuals have been charged in this credit card fraud scheme. Six of those charged have pleaded guilty, and three other individuals have been sentenced: Steve Fook, age 32, of North Stonington, Connecticut, a leader in the organization, was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment; Chee Koh Lim, age 40, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 37 months; and Jie Sun, age 30, of New Jersey, was sentenced to 37 months. Judge Arterton ordered these defendants to pay restitution to the victims in the amount of $1,121,516.06.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated that the investigation is continuing, and praised the cooperative efforts of the following law enforcement agencies who are responsible for its success: United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Connecticut State Police, Madison Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, New York State Police, and Yorktown Heights, New York Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria A. Kahn.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov