INDIANAPOLIS — A 25-year-old Fishers woman was sentenced to almost five years in federal prison Wednesday for stealing hundreds of identities and defrauding banks out of thousands of dollars, according to United States Attorney Josh Minkler.
For about six years, Arielle Wilkerson obtained files containing personally identifiable information (PII) to steal the identities of hundreds of people across the US.
The 25-year-old was able to obtain files that included names, dates of birth, social security numbers, phones numbers, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and routing numbers. Wilkerson even ran credit reports on some of the victims.
Wilkerson was able to use the findings on PII's to create new or take-over current credit cards and other financial means in the name of the victim.
The Fishers resident is to blame for a total of $115,360.38 in actual loses the banks suffered, and at least another $41,500 in an attempted loss.
The stolen funds were used by Wilkerson to purchase personal items from stores located around Fishers and Indianapolis. Wilkerson wired money from victim accounts to her accounts, as well.
Wilkerson is a repeat offender who has an extensive criminal history, according to Minkler.
"This sentence sends a strong message to those out there who steal victims' identities and profit from the use of those identities, that this behavior is illegal and those who do so will face real consequences," said Minkler. "Protecting the public from the illegal use of personal information to commit fraud is a priority of this office."
The court deemed Wilkerson "a consumer's worst nightmare" at her sentencing hearing.
