Hasan Korkmaz Pleads Guilty, Santee Trucking Company Owner Admits $2.1 Million Federal Identity Theft and Credit Card Fraud

Hasan Korkmaz, owner of the Santee, California trucking company San Diego Logistics Group Inc., pleaded guilty on October 15, 2026 to all 18 federal counts in a credit card fraud and identity theft case that caused more than $2,103,000 in losses to two banks. Sentencing is set for January 8, 2027, at 9 a.m. No sentence or final restitution amount has been announced.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Korkmaz admitted using real people’s names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and other personal information to open fraudulent credit card accounts, running up charges (including at his own business) and using bad payments to temporarily restore available credit so he could charge the accounts again. Prosecutors say nearly 100 individuals’ identities were involved, and he moved fraud proceeds to a bank account he controlled in Türkiye.

This is a federal criminal case, not a class action. No public claim form, settlement fund or claim deadline has been announced. If you think your identity was used, protect your credit now rather than waiting for sentencing.

Quick Facts: United States v. Hasan Korkmaz

Detail	Information
Defendant	Hasan Korkmaz, age 45 at the time of the announcement
Business	San Diego Logistics Group Inc., Santee, California
Case	United States v. Hasan Korkmaz, No. 25-cr-1405-JES
Court	U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Judge	James E. Simmons, Jr.
Guilty plea	October 15, 2026, to all 18 counts
Charges	12 counts of bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344(2)); 2 counts of money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1957); 4 counts of aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028A)
Reported bank losses	More than $2,103,000 across two banks
Individual victims	Nearly 100, per DOJ
Largest single transaction	$18,500
Conduct period	2022 to 2023
Arrest	June 2025, after about 18 months in Türkiye
Sentencing	January 8, 2027, 9 a.m.
Restitution	Not announced
Public victim claim form or fund	None announced

What Korkmaz Admitted

The DOJ says that during 2022 and 2023 Korkmaz:

1. Obtained personal information belonging to real people.
2. Used it to apply for numerous credit cards.
3. Charged purchases at various businesses, including his own trucking company.
4. Made payments with checks drawn on accounts with insufficient funds or that did not exist, which temporarily restored available credit.
5. Charged the accounts again near their limits.
6. Transferred proceeds to a bank account he controlled in Türkiye.

Because he pleaded guilty, these facts are admitted rather than merely alleged. His sentence and restitution remain to be decided.

What Is a “Bust-Out” Scheme?

A bust-out involves building or exploiting available credit and then running up large balances with no intent to repay. It describes the pattern, not a separate charge. Here the government charged bank fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

How Victims May Be Affected

The $2,103,000 is the reported loss to two banks, not an amount stolen from each individual. Even so, people whose identities were used can face unauthorized accounts, collection notices, damaged credit and trouble getting new credit.

The Federal Charges and Penalties

Bank Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344), Counts 1-12

Section 1344(2) covers a scheme to obtain money, funds, credits, assets or property owned by or under the custody of a financial institution by false or fraudulent pretenses. The maximum penalty is 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million per count. The Supreme Court has addressed the scope of the statute in Loughrin v. United States, 573 U.S. 351 (2014) (§ 1344(2) does not require proof of intent to defraud a bank itself, but the false pretense must be the mechanism for obtaining bank property) and Shaw v. United States, 580 U.S. 63 (2016). The limitation period for bank fraud is ten years (18 U.S.C. § 3293).

Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1957), Counts 13-14

Section 1957 prohibits knowingly engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property worth more than $10,000 that is derived from specified unlawful activity, which includes bank fraud. The statutory maximum in § 1957(b)(1) is ten years in prison, a fine, or both, with a possible fine of up to twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved (§ 1957(b)(2)). Penalty descriptions in press releases can differ from statutory text, so the plea agreement and sentencing filings control.

Aggravated Identity Theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028A), Counts 15-18

This offense applies when a person knowingly transfers, possesses or uses another person’s means of identification without lawful authority during and in relation to an enumerated felony, which includes bank fraud. It carries a mandatory two-year prison term that must run consecutively to the sentence for the underlying felony (§ 1028A(a)(1), (b)(2)). A court cannot reduce the underlying sentence to offset it (§ 1028A(b)(3)), but has limited discretion over whether multiple § 1028A terms run concurrently with each other (§ 1028A(b)(4)). In Dubin v. United States, 599 U.S. 110 (2023), the Supreme Court held that the identity use must be at the crux of what makes the underlying crime wrongful, a requirement the defendant satisfied here by pleading guilty to the counts.

Maximums Are Not Predictions

The number of counts multiplied by the statutory maximum is not the likely sentence. The judge applies the sentencing statute and the advisory Guidelines.

How Federal Sentencing Works

• Presentence report: Probation prepares a report calculating the advisory Guidelines range (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32). Victims may submit information and be heard.
• Guidelines: The Guidelines are advisory (United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005)). Fraud sentences are driven heavily by the loss amount and the number of victims under U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1. A loss of more than $1.5 million but not more than $3.5 million adds 16 offense levels, and 10 or more victims can add further levels. Money laundering is calculated under § 2S1.1. Acceptance of responsibility can reduce the offense level (§ 3E1.1).
• Statutory factors: The court must consider the factors in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including the nature of the offense, the defendant’s history, deterrence and the need to protect the public and provide restitution.
• Two-year mandatory term: The § 1028A term is added on top of the sentence for the other counts.
• Fines and forfeiture: The maximum fine for a felony by an individual is generally $250,000 per count or twice the gross gain or loss (18 U.S.C. § 3571), and forfeiture of proceeds is available for bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(2)(A)).
• Supervised release: A term of supervised release usually follows prison.
• Plea agreements: Many include agreed recommendations or an appeal waiver, but the court is not required to accept them. The actual terms must be confirmed from the filed plea agreement.

Restitution: Will Victims Be Paid?

Restitution is separate from prison and fines.

• Mandatory Victims Restitution Act (18 U.S.C. § 3663A): Requires restitution in cases involving offenses against property under Title 18, including fraud, where an identifiable victim suffered a physical injury or pecuniary loss. The banks that lost money are the clearest victims.
• Identity theft victims (18 U.S.C. §§ 3663(b)(6) and 3663A(b)(5)): For § 1028A offenses, restitution may include the value of time reasonably spent trying to remediate the intended or actual harm, as well as other qualifying expenses.
• Procedure (18 U.S.C. § 3664): The court may set a later date, generally within 90 days after sentencing, to finalize restitution if losses are not yet ascertainable.
• Crime Victims’ Rights Act (18 U.S.C. § 3771): Gives crime victims the right to be reasonably heard at public proceedings such as plea and sentencing, to be treated with fairness, and to full and timely restitution as provided by law.
• No guarantee: Being named in the case does not guarantee payment. Eligibility depends on documented loss and the court’s findings, and collecting restitution depends on the defendant’s assets.

What to Do If Your Identity May Be Involved

1. Freeze your credit at all three bureaus. Credit freezes are free under federal law (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-1), do not affect your score and stay until you lift them. Contact Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
2. Consider a fraud alert. A free initial fraud alert lasts one year, and a bureau you contact must tell the other two. With an identity theft report, you can request an extended seven-year alert.
3. Review your credit reports for unfamiliar accounts and inquiries at AnnualCreditReport.com. Save copies and note dates.
4. Report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov to get an identity theft report and recovery plan, and file a police report if appropriate.
5. Contact each lender’s fraud department. Ask them to close the account, investigate and confirm in writing. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can ask credit bureaus to block information that results from identity theft (15 U.S.C. § 1681c-2), and you can request business records of fraudulent accounts opened in your name (15 U.S.C. § 1681g(e)).
6. Dispute errors with both the credit bureau and the furnisher (15 U.S.C. § 1681i and § 1681s-2). Under the Truth in Lending Act, your liability for unauthorized credit card use is limited (15 U.S.C. § 1643), and you are not responsible for accounts you did not open.
7. Contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office victim-witness program for the Southern District of California to ask whether you are identified as a victim, how to submit loss documentation and how to follow restitution proceedings.
8. Never pay anyone to register you for a restitution or settlement payment. None has been announced.

Related guide: How Long Does It Take to Fix Credit After Identity Theft? Expert Guide.

Key Dates

Date	Event
2022-2023	Conduct described in the plea
June 3, 2025	U.S. Attorney’s Office announces the 18-count indictment
June 2025	Korkmaz arrested after returning to the U.S.
October 15, 2026	Guilty plea to all 18 counts
January 8, 2027, 9 a.m.	Sentencing before Judge James E. Simmons, Jr.
Restitution	Not announced

FAQs About the Hasan Korkmaz Case

Did Korkmaz plead guilty?

Yes, to all 18 counts on October 15, 2026.

How much did the scheme cost?

More than $2,103,000 in losses to two banks. No per-person loss has been announced.

What are the charges?

12 counts of bank fraud, two of money laundering and four of aggravated identity theft.

What is the case number?

25-cr-1405-JES, Southern District of California.

When is sentencing?

January 8, 2027 at 9 a.m. The sentence has not been announced.

What is the maximum sentence?

Bank fraud carries up to 30 years per count and § 1028A adds a mandatory consecutive two years per qualifying count, subject to the statute’s rules. The sentence will depend on the Guidelines and the judge’s decision.

Will victims get restitution?

Possibly, for qualifying documented losses under the Mandatory Victims Restitution Act. No amount has been announced.

Is there a claim form?

No. This is a criminal case, not a class settlement.

What should I do if an account was opened in my name?

Freeze your credit, report at IdentityTheft.gov, contact the lender’s fraud department and dispute the account with the credit bureaus.

Does the plea mean my identity was used?

Not necessarily. The DOJ says nearly 100 individuals’ identities were involved but has not published a victim list. Check your credit reports and ask the victim-witness program.

Sources and Official Legal References

1. U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of California, Owner of Santee Trucking Company Pleads Guilty to $2 Million Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme (October 15, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/owner-santee-trucking-company-pleads-guilty-2-million-credit-card-fraud-and-identity
2. U.S. Department of Justice, Southern District of California, Owner of Santee Trucking Company Charged in $2 Million Credit Card Scheme (June 3, 2025): https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/owner-santee-trucking-company-charged-2-million-credit-card-scheme
3. 18 U.S.C. § 1344: https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-120/t18/s1344/
4. 18 U.S.C. § 1957: https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-120/t18/s1957/
5. 18 U.S.C. § 1028A: https://uscode.house.gov/us/usc/119-120/t18/s1028A/
6. 18 U.S.C. §§ 982, 3293, 3553, 3571, 3663, 3663A, 3664 and 3771; Fed. R. Crim. P. 32; U.S. Sentencing Guidelines §§ 2B1.1, 2S1.1 and 3E1.1
7. Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1681c-1, 1681c-2, 1681g(e), 1681i and 1681s-2; Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1643
8. Loughrin v. United States, 573 U.S. 351 (2014); Shaw v. United States, 580 U.S. 63 (2016); Dubin v. United States, 599 U.S. 110 (2023); United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005)
9. Federal Trade Commission, IdentityTheft.gov recovery steps: https://www.identitytheft.gov/Steps
10. Federal Trade Commission, credit freeze guidance: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/09/get-credit-freeze-stop-identity-thieves
11. AnnualCreditReport.com: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/
12. U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, Victim-Witness Assistance: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/victim-witness-assistance

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is a legal information website, not a law firm. The sentence and restitution remain pending. Consult a licensed attorney about your own situation.