Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers in Car Rental Fraud Scheme

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

William Knight, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan on February 2, 2026.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that Knight participated in a conspiracy in which conspirators obtained credit card numbers and other personal information for numerous individuals through the dark web. Working with a complicit employee, Knight and his conspirators used the fraudulently obtained credit card numbers to rent approximately 100 vehicles that Knight and his conspirators either used themselves or then rented to other individuals.

Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 12 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Knight.