South Bend, IN — Indigo Kiara Graham (27), Cortez Tarmar Crawford (22), and Trevon Demar Allen (30), all of Elkhart, Indiana, were arrested yesterday and charged with conspiracy related to a SIM-swapping operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.
The indictment, unsealed on November 7, 2024, reveals that the three individuals allegedly worked together to illegally profit by targeting victims with SIM swaps. A SIM swap occurs when a criminal transfers a victim’s mobile number to a SIM card under their control, allowing them to impersonate the victim and gain access to their personal accounts, including email platforms, cryptocurrency exchanges, and social media.
Between April 2023 and May 2024, Graham, Crawford, and Allen allegedly created fake identification documents, carried out the SIM swaps for payment, and stole two-factor authentication codes to access and steal victims’ funds and data. They are also accused of extorting victims to restore their accounts and laundering the stolen funds through cryptocurrency transactions.
In addition to the conspiracy charges, Graham and Crawford face charges of aggravated identity theft. Crawford, in particular, is linked to an incident at a mobile service provider store in El Cerrito, California, where he allegedly used fraudulent identification.
The indictment lays out the extensive nature of the defendants’ criminal operation, which targeted vulnerable individuals to steal personal information, funds, and access to important accounts. Authorities also emphasized that SIM-swapping is a growing threat to digital security, with criminals exploiting mobile carrier systems to bypass two-factor authentication protections.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Graham and Crawford could face additional mandatory sentences of two years for each aggravated identity theft count, bringing their potential sentences to over seven years. All three also face significant financial penalties, including a $250,000 fine, restitution, and forfeiture of any criminal gains.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to tackle cybercrime and identity theft in the digital age, especially as SIM-swapping becomes an increasingly prevalent method for fraudsters to gain access to sensitive information and funds.
