Man accused of running identity theft scheme out of Downtown Crossing kiosk

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – A 36-year-old Brighton man is facing charges following an extensive undercover investigation into alleged illegal activity centering around a kiosk in Downtown Crossing.

Attorney General Martha Coakley says Shahab "David" Yousheei was arrested on Thursday morning in Boston Common after he reportedly purchased counterfeit money. Yousheei's arrest comes after an investigation involving the attorney general's office, Boston and Mass. State police, and the U.S. Secret Service.

Investigators allege Yousheei operated an extensive identity theft scheme in which he used false identities to open mobile phone accounts. In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Coakley said other involved parties would use the accounts opened by Yousheei to buy smartphones and electronics at discounted prices. Yousheei would then sell those electronics at higher prices in a kiosk located at 449 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing.

Yousheei is also accused of using stolen credit card numbers to create credit cards. In some cases, Yousheei reportedly created credit cards that looked official and legitimate. It is alleged that Yousheei would use these cards to buy merchandise that he would later sell.

Investigators believe Yousheei's kiosk was used as a way of gathering information. The attorney general recommends anyone who made a purchase from the kiosk get a credit report.

Yousheei is scheduled for arraignment on Friday for charges that include identity theft, illegal possession of a credit card encoder, three counts of falsely making a credit card, two counts of using a fraudulent credit card, two counts of receiving good purchased with a fraudulent credit card, and possession of counterfeit money.

Cox Media Group