Xao Thao, 26, of Lincolnton was sentenced on charges of credit card fraud and aggravated identify theft Wednesday, February 10, in the United States District Court in Augusta.

The announcement was made by Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

In March of 2009, Thao pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possessing more than 15 unauthorized credit card numbers and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The evidence presented at last week’s hearing showed that Thao fraudulently recorded and stored more than 400 credit card numbers, which belonged to customers of a restaurant in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she worked as a cashier in 2008.

It was further determined that Thao made unauthorized purchases with some of the credit card numbers after she moved to Lincolnton in early November of 2008 and prior to her arrest by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office on November 21, 2008.

A letter from one of Thao’s victims was read during the hearing. The document noted that Thao’s crimes caused that particular victim “and other hard-working people fear, stress, and worry over their identities and finances.”

Commenting on the evidence, United States District Judge J. Randal Hall remarked that identify theft can “ruin people’s lives” and that Thao’s actions were a menace.

Judge Hall sentenced the defendant to 61 months or approximately five years imprisonment.

In his remarks, United States Attorney Tarver stated, “This prosecution demonstrates the continuing commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office to protect the privacy and financial security of the citizens of this nation. Relying on the joint efforts of federal and local law enforcement, this office will aggressively pursue anyone who attempts to commit identify theft crimes.”

FBI Special Agent Paul Kubala and Investigator Jack Hancock of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation associated with the guilty plea.

The government was represented in this case by Assistant United States District Attorney David M. Stewart.