Dallas military man selling fake vaccination cards was arrested

A Texas soldier has been indicted in Fort Worth federal court for selling fake covid-19 vaccination cards on Instagram, court documents reveal.

At a time when airlines, gyms, restaurants and other businesses turn away unvaccinated customers, some still refuse to receive the dose. This has fueled a black market for vaccination cards.

According to federal agents, 20-year-old Keishaun Edward Todd sold at least one vaccination card to undercover agents for $ 150. Along with Dallas police officers, they executed a search warrant Thursday at a Fort Worth hotel where he was staying for his military duties and found 82 vaccination cards, 61 of which were blank, court records show.

Todd received payments in Zelle and Apple Pay and then mailed the cards to his clientele.

The Dallas resident was charged with illegal possession of US government property and was released after appearing in court. Neither he nor his attorney could be reached Friday.

The FBI and the federal Department of Health and Human Services issued an alert in March warning citizens that buying or making fake vaccination cards is illegal and puts others at risk.

The illegal sale of fake vaccination cards is increasing nationwide, the FBI noted.

“We will vigorously investigate any crime that contributes to vaccine mistrust and vaccination status,” said Attorney General Kenneth Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.