LEXINGTON, KY. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Kentucky, Eastern), published as received.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – An Orlando, Fl., man, Ivory Joe Pruitt, 61, was sentenced on Friday to 63 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Pruitt was also ordered to pay $137,392.74 in restitution. 

More than a dozen university, hospital, and local police agencies across the country took part in the investigation.  The collaboration and sharing of investigation revealed that     

between August 2022 and May 2024, Pruitt and several co‑conspirators carried out an organized, multi‑state fraud scheme. The group traveled to hospitals and university buildings across the country to steal wallets containing credit cards, debit cards, and personal identifying information. After the group stole the wallets, they then used the stolen cards—and fraudulent Sam’s Club accounts created with victims’ identities—to make, or attempt to make, more than $179,000 in purchases at retailers including Sam’s Club, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Target. Pruitt played a central role by directing aspects of the operation, personally stealing numerous wallets, and repeatedly using stolen identities. The conspiracy spanned at least a dozen states and involved more than 30 victims whose financial information was used without authorization.

Pruitt’s co-conspirators have previously been sentenced for their role in the wire fraud conspiracy. They received the following sentences: 

  • Yoshi Keori Williams was sentenced to 112 months in prison, and supervised release of 2 years.
  • Daniel Rashaud Sanchious was sentenced to credit for time served, or 21 months, and supervised release of 2 years.
  • Tashawn Shamal Canegata was sentenced to 30 months, and supervised release of 2 years.
  • Kellie Marie Miller was sentenced to a total of 45 months, and supervised release of 2 years. 

Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; and Chief Joe Monroe, University of Kentucky Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the University of Kentucky Police Department, and dozens of police agencies across the country. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 

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