Former Spartanburg Public Safety Officer Convicted of Wire Fraud and Access Device Fraud

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney REGINALD I. LLOYD stated today that DALE HORTON, age 47, of Spartanburg, was found guilty by a jury in federal court yesterday in Greenville, of one count of wire fraud and two counts of access device fraud. United States District Judge Henry Herlong of Greenville presided over the trial and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the trial established that Horton would buy and sell unauthorized merchandise cards that were obtained by shoplifters. At Horton’s direction, individuals would obtain items from retail stores through fraud by shoplifting such items or using stolen credit cards to purchase such items. These individuals would then return the fraudulently obtained items for a merchandise card that represented the value of the stolen items. Horton would continually buy the merchandise cards from the shoplifters for 50% of their value and then resell the merchandise card for a profit. The evidence presented at trial revealed that Horton purchased over $70,000 worth of merchandise cards between July 2005 and January 2007.

Mr. Lloyd stated the maximum penalty Horton can receive is a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for 20 years for the wire fraud conviction and 10 years for the access device conviction.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Walt Wilkins of the Greenville office handled the case.