>>> 50 BILLION DOLLARS STOLEN EVERY YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY THROUGH IDENTITY THEFT.
STAGGERING NUMBER HAS CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF VIOLENT STREET GANG WHO WANT IN ON THE PROFIT.
THEY ARE WILLING TO KILL TO GET IT.
>> TONIGHT THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SPEAKING OUT EXPOSING A LOCAL GANG AND THE LEADER KNOWN AS THE MILLION DOLLAR MKNO MAN.
THEY HAVE CARVED OUT A LARGE PIECE OF THE STOLEN CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY.
KEVIN HAS THE STORY.
>> YOU MAY THINK IDENTITY THEFT AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE THE CARD AT THE ATM MACHINE AND IT MAY BE TRUE BUT TONIGHT THE EYES OPEN WIDE TO THE VIOLENT WAR GOING ON
BETWEEN STREET GANGS OVER YOUR BANKING INFORMATION.
MAN WITH THE WAD OF CASH IS MAY SON.
GANG MEMBER.
KNOWN ON THE STREETS OF DETROIT AS THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN.
HE'S PERHAPS THIS AREA'S MOST PROLIFIC CREDIT CARD THIEF EPROL EVER.
MORE THAN 3000 STOLEN ACCOUNTS.
ONE VICTIM TAKEN FOR 69,000 DOLLARS.
ACCORDING TO FEDERAL DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY THE DEFENDER, MASON WAS USING THE MONEY ON LAVISH SPENDING SPREE. GOING TO HIGH END STORES AT THE MALL.
JETTING OFF TO FLORIDA VACATION THAT INCLUDED COURT SIDE SEAT AT NBA BASKETBALL GAMES.
HE WAS BUYING THOUSANDS OFFICE DOLLARS IN THE ELECTRONIC AND HUNDREDS OF PAIRS OF SHOES.
>> THEY MIGHT THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFESTYLE WHEN THEY ARE IN IT.
BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TRIPS TO FLORIDA.
YOU CAN GO TO SOUTH BEACH.
YOU CAN GO TO THE BASKETBALL GAMES.
YOU CAN BY AS MANY PAIRS O SHOES AS YOU WANT AND THEY THINK THEY ARE JUST LIVING PRETTY HIGH.
>> MASON WAS LIVING HIGH.
BUT HE WAS ALSO MAKING MISTAKE.
HE HAD BEEN CAUGHT OVER AND OVER INCLUDING LOCAL ARRESTS IN TAYLOR.
SOUTH GATE AND HOWELL.
>> BUT EACH INDIVIDUAL ARREST WAS TREATED AS MINOR PROPERTY CRIME WITH LITTLE CONSEQUENCE FOR MACE ON. GANG STOLE MORE IDENTITY THEY MADE A LOT MORE MONEY AND BEGAN BRAGGING ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> SHOWING HOW MUCH MONEY THEY ARE MAKING.
SOMETIMES THEY ARE SHOWING THE GUNS.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY EXPORTING THE VIOLENCE THROUGH THE INTERNET.
>>Reporter: THEY STARTED BUYING STOLEN CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS ON THE DARK WEB.
SOON THEY HAD MOR CREDIT CARD THAN PEOPLE TO SHOP.
MANY ROLLING IN AS MASON BANG GANG BRAGGED ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THEY WERE MAKING, RIVAL DECIDED TO TRY AND TAKE THEM OUT.
>> THE RIVAL GANG WILL SEE THAT.
AND THEY WILL BECOME UPSET BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY.
AND THEN CROSS FIRE.
IN FACT WE HAD 5-YEAR-OLD GIRL SHOT IN THE HEAD ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
THAT WAS CAUSED IN THE CROSS FIRE OF ONE OF THESE GANGS.
ONE OF THE IDENTITY THEFT GANGS.
SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER TO CAPTURE EACH OTHER'S MONEY.
>>Reporter: IDENTITY THEFT IN METRO DETROIT WAS NO LONGER A PROPERTY CRIME.
IT WAS A VIOLENT CRIME.
>> IT'S MISNOMER FOR ANYBODY TO SAY THAT IDENTITY THEFT IS A NON-VIOLENT CRIME THAT'S NOT TRUE.
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING THE CRIMES ARE THEN ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE.
THEY AREEN GAMEING IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS.
THEY ARE ENGAGING IN ATTEMPTED MURDER OR MURDER IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE CRIMINAL OBJESATISFY OBJECTIVES.
>> THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN WAS CRISSCROSSING THE COUNTRY LIVING LARGE ON OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS PUTTING THE PLAN TOGETHER.
TO PUT CHARLES MAY SON OUT OF BUSINESS FOR GOOD.
>> CREDIT CARD OFFENSES RACKETEERING OFFENSES AND WHEN WE CAN CATCH THOSE TO THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, YOU ARE LOOKING AT SENTENCE THAT IS COULD BE DECADES IN FEDERAL
PRISON.
>> U.S. ATTORNEY KNOWS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING STOLEN.
THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT VICTIMS ARE HAVING THE BANK ACCOUNTS COMPROMISED.
AND NOW VIOLENCE IS SPILLING INTO THE STREETS.
HE SAYS FROM NOW ON SOUTH EAST MICHIGAN IDENTITY THEFT CAN AND WILL LAND YOU VERY SERIOUS FEDERAL CHARGES.
>> WE ARE TRYING TO SEND A MESSAGE.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT GUY WHO LOOKS LIKE HE'S RICH BECAUSE HE'S MADE HIS MONEY OFF OF ILLICIT UNLAWFUL TIVSHINGTS YOU WON'T BE SEEING HIM TOO MUCH LONGER.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE.
>> NO MORE COURT SIDE SEAT FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR MAN FOR A LONG TIME FACING DECADES BEHIND BARS.
CHARLES MASON DECIDED TO PLEAD GUILTY AND SENTENCED TO 8 AN