Rifling Gym Lockers Nets Crooks $429,000

A federal judge sentenced a Revere, Mass., man to 81 months in prison for his role in an identity theft ring that took credit cards from health club gym lockers and finagled cash advances at horse tracks in at least 10 states.

James DeSimone and at least four other defendants were part of a crime ring in which an accomplice stole credit cards from health clubs, then sent DiSimone the information, the FraudNews blog reported. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service said DeSimone and his accomplices purchased false identification and used it to take out cash advances at racetracks around the country.

DeSimone was ordered to repay the $429,000 the FBI said the gang stole over a two-year period. Dennis Savarese, who was charged with the theft of the cards, had already been sentenced to 14 years in prison. Three other men have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.