A New Orleans resident, Kenneth Richmond, has pled guilty to charges related to a fraudulent vehicle purchase scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Richmond, aged 64, entered his plea on May 9, 2025. The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Richmond could face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge, along with three years of supervised release. For the identity theft charge, he faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years and an additional year of supervised release. Each count carries a potential fine of $250,000 and a special assessment fee of $100.
Court documents reveal that in 2022, Richmond conspired with another individual to use fake and stolen personal information for fraudulent vehicle purchases from a local dealership. These purchases were financed through loans from a financial institution, several of which defaulted. The dealership suffered losses amounting to approximately $124,031.41 due to this scheme. In July 2022, Richmond used someone else's name, date of birth, and Social Security Number without consent to buy a Dodge Challenger.
Judge Barry Ashe has scheduled Richmond's sentencing for August 14, 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office acknowledged the contributions of the United States Secret Service, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni from the Financial Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.