Man Pleads Guilty in Scheme That Robbed Businesses of 264K

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Authorities say a 23-year-old man pleaded guilty to his role in a prepaid card scheme that bilked more than $264,000 from several businesses in South Carolina and Georgia.

U.S. Attorney Beth Drake said Friday that Dalvin Michael Davenport Jr. of Greenville was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and money laundering. Davenport also was ordered to repay nearly $31,000.

Prosecutors say Davenport and co-conspirators recruited cashiers at various businesses to credit funds onto prepaid Green Dot, Visa and other cards without receiving payment. The conspirators then depleted the cards of the fraudulently loaded money.

At least nine others in the conspiracy previously pleaded guilty. They range in age from 21 to 26. The longest sentence was three years in prison.