United States v. Anthony Williams

591 F. App'x 78
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedOctober 31, 2014
Docket13-2391
StatusUnpublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 591 F. App'x 78 (United States v. Anthony Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States v. Anthony Williams, 591 F. App'x 78 (3d Cir. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION *

GREENBERG, Circuit Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Appellant Anthony Williams organized and managed a broad conspiracy to acquire and misuse the personal identification and banking information of dozens of victims in acts constituting access device and bank fraud, among other offenses. The conspiracy cost its victims over $1.8 million dollars before the conspirators were arrested and indicted. Williams now appeals from his conviction for conspiracy, access device fraud, identity theft, and bank fraud. Having exhausted the efforts of two court-appointed attorneys in the District Court and regarding their representation to have been unsatisfactory, Williams is proceeding pro se on this appeal.

On April 12, 2011, a grand jury indicted Williams for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Count 1); 13 counts of access device fraud, and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1029(a)(2) and 2 (Counts 2-14); three counts of bank fraud, and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2 (Counts 15-17); three counts of aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(A)(1) and 2 (Counts 18-21); and one count of identity theft, and aiding and abetting, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1028(a)(7) and 2 (Count 22). The indictment charged 15 other individuals with various offenses arising out of the conspiracy. All of Williams’ co-defendants pleaded guilty and have been sentenced and none has appealed.

Williams’ trial commenced on November 27, 2012. On December 6, 2012, the jury convicted Williams of conspiracy, nine counts of access device fraud, the three bank fraud counts, and all of the identity theft counts. He advances both legal and procedural claims on this appeal, some of which he did not raise in the District Court. He contends that he was prejudiced *81 when the Court denied his motions to dismiss the indictment on the ground that he had been denied counsel and that his constitutional and statutory right to a speedy trial had been infringed. Williams next attacks the validity of his conspiracy conviction, and argues that the access device fraud and identity theft counts did not allege facts sufficient to enable him to prepare a defense. He goes on to argue that there was a prejudicial variance between the evidence at trial and offenses charged in the indictment, the government constructively amended the indictment, and the Court erred in charging the jury and in denying the jury’s request for a transcript of certain testimony during its deliberations. Finally, he claims that the Court erred in determining the amount of the loss attributable to him, in applying a two-level sentencing enhancement for obstruction of justice, and in assessing criminal history points on the basis of his state conviction for fraud in New Jersey in 2010. We address each of his arguments. Although many of them have been waived or not preserved, we address the merits of each argument. We find all of them to be groundless. For the reasons we will set forth, we will affirm the judgment of conviction and sentence on all counts.

II. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL HISTORY

Williams led a complex conspiracy to obtain and use personal identification information and credit account information to acquire bank cards and checks illegally in order to fraudulently obtain cash advances and purchase merchandise. Williams acted and directed others to act to obtain the account and identification information, and pose as valid account holders in order to add additional names to various accounts. Williams directed the shipment of^new cards to various addresses under his control, including numerous Federal Express facilities, and organized the interception of certain other deliveries to residences. Williams directed the use of the fraudulent cards, instructing co-conspirators to obtain cash advances or purchase merchandise. Williams and the other participants divided the proceeds of these transactions but it seems clear that he received the largest share of the illegally obtained proceeds.

Similarly, Williams orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to obtain bank account numbers and identification information to obtain additional checks on strangers’ bank accounts. As was the case with the fraudulent cards, Williams changed the address or phone number of existing accounts and ordered checks in the name of account holders. Williams arranged for checks to be shipped to controlled addresses and to have packages intercepted before they were delivered. Williams prepared the checks and signed the account holder’s name, directed other conspirators to recruit individuals to cash the fraudulent checks at various banks, and disbursed the proceeds of each successful transaction among a group of conspirators.

'Williams evidently recognized that his scheme could be uncovered leading to his apprehension, so he cautiously took steps to avoid that fate. Thus, he did not meet personally with several of the members of the conspiracy so that they could not identify him if they were arrested. Co-defendant Nathaniel Whitfield, however, did meet Williams, and testified at length at the trial regarding details of the access device, identity theft, and bank fraud schemes. Whitfield explained that he obtained cash advances and made purchases using fraudulent cards that Williams put in Whitfield’s name, and described how Williams prepared and signed fraudulently obtained checks. Williams used hotel and *82 library computers to pull up documents bearing the account holders’ signatures and then practiced signing each signature until it mirrored the original. Whitfield described how he recruited several individuals to steal personal identification information, which other conspirators used to obtain credit reports. Williams used the information to call the banks or credit card companies and request additional cards under other names, providing various reasons for the account change.

Another conspirator, Timeeka Loud, testified that Williams recruited her to obtain credit reports. Williams provided personal identification information, which Loud used to search various websites and obtain additional information giving her access to credit reports. Loud ran credit reports and provided the information to Williams, who used it to access the accounts.

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Bluebook (online)
591 F. App'x 78, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-v-anthony-williams-ca3-2014.