NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A Bronx man was sentenced to one to three years in prison on Wednesday for an identity theft scheme that entailed him using the dark web to gain access to multiple Suffolk County residents’ identities and obtaining cash from their bank accounts.
“Identity theft comes with serious consequences. Not only for the thief but also for the victims. No one wants their personal information stolen and used for illegal activities or have their funds wiped out to fund a criminal’s greed,” Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.
Donald Archibald, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny and three counts of identity theft—all either class D or class E felonies—on Feb. 9.
Prosecutors said that on April 13, 2023, the defendant obtained his first victim’s Suffolk County address and contact information from the dark web.
Archibald then entered an M&T Bank in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and showed the teller a fake driver’s license that included the victim’s correct name and address, but the defendant’s photo, according to court documents and the guilty plea.
He presented a withdrawal slip and took $2,000 out of the victim’s checking account.
Later the same day, Archibald entered a different M&T Bank branch in Bridgeport and used the same victim’s bank account information and a “washed” check to withdrawal $3,000 more from the Suffolk residents’ account.
Archibald continued the spree the next day and obtained a different Suffolk County resident’s personal information from the dark web.
He then entered a TD Bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and presented a fake driver’s license before cashing a $4,500 "washed" check in the victim's name.
Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro ordered Archibald to serve an indeterminate sentence of one to three years in prison.