FBI Arrest 6 in Identity Theft, Wire Fraud Sting

KATY, TX -- FBI and local law enforcement officers raided a home in Katy early this morning and arrested six people who were allegedly involved in an identity theft scheme to steal money from personal
accounts, and filing false tax returns to collect refunds.

Authorities conducted the raid on the home about 6 a.m. Wednesday on a home at the intersection of Lemonmint Meadow Drive and Purple Cornflower Trail.

Six people were arrested as part of a 32-count federal indictment that was returned on Oct. 26 on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, theft of public money and conspiracy to do so as well as
aggravated identity theft.

The six, who are identified as James Michael Curtis Johnson, 31, Donald Ray Perry, 26, Enitra Shante Pickett, 28, and D’angela Devonne Domio, 26, all of Houston; Joshua Jacquez Britton, 28, of Richmond; and
Joseph Edward Johnson, 44, of Katy, were taken into custody early Wednesday and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson Wednesday afternoon.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment Oct. 26.

The federal indictment alleges the six conspired to steal money from bank accounts and were involved in a conspiracy involving the filing of false tax returns and aggravated identity theft.

In a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District, authorities allege that James Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Pickett and Joshua Britton posed as account holders at various financial institutions and conspired with themselves and others to steal money from bank accounts by creating fake bank accounts online and then transferring money from the victim’s bank accounts or home equity lines
of credit.

The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while a conviction for theft of public money is punishable by a maximum of 10
years imprisonment.

Each of the six arrested also faces a maximum of five years in federal prison upon conviction of the conspiracy. Each conviction also carries a possible $250,000 fine.

The FBI Houston Cyber Task Force conducted the investigation and subsequent raid in cooperation with the IRS-CI, the Houston Police Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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