PITTSBURGH, PA. – A 32-year-old Pittsburgh man is facing a potential decade behind bars after a high-tech identity theft scheme involving a fleet of stolen rentals finally caught up with him. William Knight pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, officially wrapping up a case that linked local crime to the murky corners of the dark web.
The operation was surprisingly organized. According to prosecutors led by U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti, Knight and a group of co-conspirators went shopping on the dark web for stolen credit card numbers and personal data.
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But they weren’t just buying electronics or gift cards. Instead, they teamed up with a “complicit” employee to bypass security and rent out roughly 100 different vehicles. Knight and his crew used some of the cars themselves, while others were essentially “sub-leased” to third parties, creating an illegal rental business built entirely on stolen identities.
The ride ended in front of U.S. District Judge Marilyn J. Horan, where Knight admitted to two counts on February 2. While the law allows for a maximum sentence of 12 years and a $500,000 fine, his actual time served will depend on his prior record and the specific gravity of the fraud.
Knight is currently scheduled for sentencing on May 20.
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