US jails Brit credit card fraud mastermind for 14 years
An expatriate Brit who helped mastermind the US's biggest credit card fraud has been sentenced in New York to 14 years imprisonment.
Former computer help desk technician Philip Cummings, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and fraud offences last September over his central role in a scam believed to have hit more than 30,000 victims and cost millions through fraudulent transactions. At the time of Cummings' November 2002 indictment, investigators had confirmed losses of more than $2.7m. Losses from the scam - which ran for approximately three years - are now put at between $50m and $100m.
US District Judge George Daniels said the case "emphasised how easy it is to wreak havoc on people's financial and personal lives", the New York Post reports. Judge Daniels jailed Cummings for 14 years commencing 9 March 2005. He will also have to pay compensations to his victims, the amount of which will be decided at a later hearing. 400lb (182kg) Cummings has a heart condition but Judge Daniels turned down pleas from the defence to go easy of their client because of his medical condition.
