Sacramento Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Access Device Fraud, Identity Theft, and Illegal Possession of a Firearm

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ahmad Nassar, 33, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to four years in prison for aggravated identity theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and access device fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, from August 2015 through June 2017, Nassar was engaged in identity theft, unauthorized bank account takeovers, and obtaining and using unauthorized and counterfeit access devices in the form of credit cards, debit cards, account numbers, and other financial account information. On May 10, 2017, agents executing search warrants at two properties in Sacramento associated with Nassar led to the seizure of a loaded .22‑caliber handgun from underneath a pillow in a bedroom of one of the properties in which Nassar himself was found. In addition, agents seized numerous boxes containing credit cards, debit cards, mail (some with “forwarding” address labels), and federal and state government-issued identification cards, bearing names of people other than Nassar, and at least 55 electronic devices, including computers, cellphones, media storage drives, and other electronic devices including a “CelleBrite” device commonly used by law enforcement to conduct forensic examinations of cellphones. Nassar used intricate techniques to obtain victims’ personal identifying and financial information, including online account takeovers that continued even after search warrants were executed on his properties. Nassar’s conduct caused at least $558,276 in losses.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Yelovich is prosecuting the case.