Woman Sentenced For ATM Skimming In Medford, Malden: Feds

BOSTON, MA – A 25-year-old woman pleaded guilty and was sentenced Tuesday in federal court for her role in an ATM skimming operation in Medford, Stoneham, Malden and Saugus, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Karem Kawamura, a Brazilian national, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the use of a counterfeit access device.

Authorities said Kawamura entered the United States with her husband, 42-year-old Alexandre Kawamura, on a six-month tourist visa last November. The couple traveled to Texas, where the older Kawamura placed skimming devices on ATMs in several cities, according to the USAO.

They came to the Boston area in January, and Kawamura checked them into a hotel in Chelsea using the alias "Sheyla Porto." She used this alias to receive two packages from Brazil containing ATM skimming equipment, the USAO said.

Meanwhile her husband allegedly rented a storage unit in Everett using the alias "Alex Justo," and used the storage unit to store ATM skimming equipment. He placed skimming devices on drive-up ATMs at Eastern Bank branches in Medford, Saugus, Stoneham and Malden between Feb. 24 and March 15, authorities said.

All of this was done with his wife's knowledge, according to the USAO.

On March 16, the couple shopped at a Dick's Sporting Goods in Medford, where the older Kawamura tried to buy a shirt, jacket and hat with a credit card under his alias "Alex Justo." The strip allegedly contained stolen bank account information, and Kawamura was arrested later that day. His wife was arrested two weeks later.

Kawamura has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. His wife was sentenced Tuesday to time served – three months – and one year of supervised released. She has agreed to be deported.

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