An investigation by Cleveland police has led to the discovery that an inmate at federal prison was running a fraud ring from within his cell. Him and his cronies on the outside used stolen credit card information and Social Security numbers to steal nearly $1 million in credit card fraud.

In his cell, investigators found three cellphones and notebooks full of names, credit card, and Social Security numbers. The man, already serving a sentence for credit card fraud, spent nearly 17 hours a day calling operators to connect him to people with the same name as his conspirators. He would then attempt to get birth dates and Social Security numbers from them as he posed as a cable service provider. With that information, he would call credit card companies and would switch approved users from the real credit card holder to his friends.

After he was discovered he was moved to another prison, but still continued the operation over the prison’s pay phone. He was charged with wire fraud and sentenced to another 14 years behind bars.

If you have suffered damages as the result of consumer fraud, contact the New Jersey consumer fraud lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., P.A at 1-800-346-5529.