LAFAYETTE — Two Georgia men who pleaded guilty in May to charges they defrauded stores nationwide out of hundred of thousands of dollars were sentenced Tuesday in federal court, said U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley.

Derrick Nathaniel Hartfield, 46, and Rico Carty Clemons, 48, were arrested July 7, 2012, at a Lake Charles Walmart, she said. They reportedly had several credit and debit cards in others’ names, along with $2,000 in cash.

Finley said the men illegally obtained gift cards and applied for credit and debit cards with other people’s identities — a scheme Hartfield told authorities may have netted him as much as $1 million since 2005.

Hartfield was sentenced to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Clemons received 10 months for wire fraud. Both must pay $14,869 in restitution.

(American Press Archives)

Michelle Higginbotham