TAMPA, Fla. – Eugene Stephan Cole, 30, Tampa, has been charged with possession of credit card manufacturing equipment and producing counterfeit credit cards.
If convicted on both counts, Cole faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison and payment of restitution to the victims that he defrauded. The indictment also notifies Cole that the United States intends to forfeit various items of equipment and computer media used by Cole to produce counterfeit credit cards.
Cole was arraigned in federal court earlier today in Jacksonville. His trial is set for March 1, 2021.
According to the indictment, on March 4, 2020, Cole possessed items related to his manufacturing of counterfeit credit cards, including a credit card encoder/recoder, a card embosser, an Apple iPad, and multiple Apple iPhones.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service (Jacksonville Field Office) and the Florida Highway Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.