A Florida man was sentenced Monday to nine years in federal prison for his involvement in an extensive multi-year wire fraud and aggravated identity theft scheme that targeted Lowe’s Home Improvement stores, defrauding the company out of over $1.1 million.
Daniel Cavey, 51, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, received the 108-month sentence from United States District Judge David C. Norton in the District of South Carolina. Following his prison term, Cavey will serve three years of court-ordered supervision. Judge Norton also ordered Cavey to pay $1,126,686.29 in restitution.
READ: Career Offender Nabbed In Lakeland After Foot Chase Ends With Taser
According to evidence presented during the investigation, Cavey and his conspirators orchestrated a complex, multi-state operation to defraud the retail giant. The scheme involved gaining unauthorized access to corporate accounts and then creating fraudulent forms of identification using the credentials of legitimate authorized users on those accounts.
Armed with the fake identification, Cavey would visit various Lowe’s stores, make purchases, and improperly charge them to the compromised corporate accounts. The fraudulently obtained merchandise was then reportedly sold for profit.
“Defrauding businesses in this manner not only causes financial harm to the business but also drives up prices for consumers,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to holding individuals accountable for complex financial crimes and protecting our business community from such elaborate schemes.”
READ: Florida Man Arrested For DUI, Allegedly Wipes Feces In Jail Cell After Restaurant Harassment
“The success of this investigation is a testament to the strong partnerships between the U.S. Secret Service, local law enforcement and the private sector,” Ben Stafford, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Charleston Resident Office said. “This sentencing reflects the seriousness of the crimes committed and sends a message that defrauding businesses and individuals in our state will not be tolerated. I appreciate the hard work and commitment of our South Carolina partners, especially the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, and Synchrony Bank’s Special Investigations Team.”
Cavey’s 108-month sentence includes 84 months for counts 1 and 2, related to the wire fraud, and a consecutive 24 months for count 8, which charged him with aggravated identity theft. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
The United States Secret Service and the City of Charleston Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting it for the District of South Carolina.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
