Couple Stole Bank Info In Medford, Stoneham: Feds

BOSTON, MA – A Brazilian couple was indicted in federal court in Boston for an ATM skimming operation in Medford, Stoneham and Saugus, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Alexandre Kawamura, 42, was indicted Thursday on two counts of using a counterfeit access device, four counts of possessing device-making equipment and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Karen Kawamura, 25, was indicted April 12 on one count of aiding and abetting the use of a counterfeit access device.

Authorities said the older Kawamura was caught on surveillance cameras placing and removing skimming devices on drive-up ATMS at various Eastern Bank branches between Feb. 24 and March 16. On two occasions, his wife was in the car, according to the USAO.

Investigators said the skimming equipment consisted of devices attached to ATM card slots that recorded bank account information on the magnetic strips of debit cards and captured the victims entering their PINs on the pinhole cameras.

A customer at an Eastern Bank branch in Stoneham reported a skimming device to police on March 16. They surveilled the bank and saw Alexandre Kawamura drive up around 11 p.m., look for the device and leave without making a transaction, according to authorities.

Police pulled Kawamura over and found that his car had been rented under an alias, which he also had embossed on a credit card at the time of his arrest. He had a Brazilian passport in his true name.

The bank account information found in the magnetic strip on his card belonged to a bank customer whose debit card had been compromised at one of the Eastern Bank ATMs the day before. Bank records showed that purchases had been made at a Dick's Sporting Goods in Medford on the day of Kawamura's arrest. Video from the store showed Kawamura and his wife shopping at the store when the card was used to buy a shirt, jacket and hat, the USAO said.

Kawamura's wife was arrested at an Extended Stay America in Woburn March 30. Investigators seized the shirt, jacket and hat that had been bought at Dick's Sporting Goods.

The charge of using a counterfeit access device provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of device-making equipment provides for a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison, to run concurrently with any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The charge of aiding and abetting the use of a counterfeit access device provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

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