Michigan man sentenced to six years in prison for Amtrak ticket fraud scheme

For Immediate Release

September 30, 2020

DETROIT — A Milan man was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison on September 25, 2020, after an Amtrak Office of Inspector General investigation uncovered his role in a massive ticket fraud scheme responsible for bilking Amtrak of more than $540,000.

Christian Newby, 32, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, for charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and firearms offenses, according to court documents. Newby, as part of his plea agreement, also agreed to a forfeiture of $550,000 and to forfeit jewelry, gold and silver coins, and various weapons and ammunition.

According to court documents, from March 2018 through January 2019, Newby fraudulently obtained credit card information for more than 1100 credit card holders and used the stolen credit card information to purchase Amtrak tickets online. Newby then cancelled the Amtrak tickets and received vouchers for the value of those tickets from Amtrak. Newby sold the Amtrak vouchers online to unwitting buyers at a fraction of their face value, causing Amtrak to suffer losses of more than $540,000 for the ticket vouchers.

As part of the investigation, agents executed a search warrant at Newby’s residence and recovered a large amount of U.S. currency, credit cards, false identities, numerous electronic devices, several improvised explosive devices, narcotics, firearms, and ammunition.

In addition to Amtrak OIG, this case was investigated by the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Milan Police Department; United States Secret Service; and the Michigan State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Jerome White, of the Eastern District of Michigan, and Melody Wells, of the Northern District of Illinois.

More information is available in the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office: https://direc.to/fapp.

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