Joanne Tragas has been sentenced to 25 yrs in prison and ordered to pay more than $2.1 million in restitution.
SAGINAW CO. -- A multi-state identity theft ring leader has been sentenced to prison, thanks to the work of the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department.
Forty-four year-old Joanne Tragas, also known as Giannoula Kolomvaku, has been sentenced in federal court to 25 years in prison, and has been ordered to repay more than $2.1 million in restitution for the crimes.
Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspeil tells NBC25 they were tracking a ring of credit card frauds in 2008. The Sheriff’s department and Meijer loss prevention investigators realized a group had been creating fake credit/debit cards and gift cards that would work at time of purchase, but contained no money or would link back to stolen identities.
The Sheriff notified the FBI, and it became apparent the ring had been operating in multiple states.
Investigations led authorities to Tragas, who is a dual citizen of Greece and Canada. Wednesday, Tragas was sentenced for the international identity theft conspiracy.
Twelve other Michigan residents were also charged in the fraud scheme. Their sentences range probation to multi-year prison sentences, and each was ordered to pay restitution.
