Eric Kendrie Shuler of New York has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for his role in a massive debit card fraud operation. Shuler and an accomplice stole over $214,000 from an Alabama credit union before a high-speed police chase ended in a crash.
The 138-withdrawal spree that netted $190 ,000 in one day
The scale of the theft carried out by Eric Kendrie Shuler and Kyara Ivelisse Rosario-Berenguer was characterized by an aggressive, high-volume approach to ATM fraud. According to the report, the pair executed a total of 201 unauthorized withdrawals from ATMs located in and around Montgomery, Alabama, stealing a cumulative $214,800. The sheer efficiency of the operation is highlighted by the fact that on a single day in September 2024, the duo managed to make 138 separate withdrawals, totaling more than $190,000.
This level of activity suggests a highly coordinated effort to drain accounts before the local credit union or its members could detect the breach. By spreading the withdrawals across multiple machines in the Montgomery area,Shuler and Rosario-Berenguer likely hoped to avoid triggering immediate security alerts that typically accompany large, single-source transfers. as reported by U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan for the Middle District of Alabama, the defendants eventually pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
A 140 mph pursuit through Montgomery's Interstates 65 and 85
The financial crime escalated into a public safety crisis in September 2024 when the Prattville Police Department attempted to intercept the suspects. Eric Kendrie Shuler led law enforcement on a reckless high-speed chase that spanned Interstates 65 and 85. During the pursuit, Shuler reportedly reached speeds of at least 140 mph, weaving through traffic, running red lights, and driving on the wrong side of the road.
The dangerous pursuit concluded near the Perry Hill Road exit on I-85 in Montgomery, where Shuler's vehicle collided with a guardrail. Even after the crash, Shuler continued to resist arrest before being taken into custody. This violent transition from white-collar fraud to reckless endangerment likely played a significant role in the severity of the eventual sentencing compared to the financial crimes alone.
Seven years for Shuler and two for Rosario-Berenguer
The legal consequences for the two conspirators difer significantly, reflecting their different roles and behaviors during the crime. eric Kendrie Shuler, who pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. In contrast, Kyara Ivelisse Rosario-Berenguer, who pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, was sentenced on May 28, 2026, to two years in federal prison.
Beyond the prison terms, the court has imposed a heavy financial burden on both parties. Shuler and Rosario-Berenguer are jointly and severally liable for $214,800 in restitution. This legal mechanism means that the government can collect the full amount from either individual, ensuring that the victims of the local credit union theft are compensated regardless of which defendant holds the remaining assets.
The vulnerability of local credit unions to identity theft
The case of Eric Kendrie Shuler echoes a broader trend of "traveling fraudsters" who target smaller, local financial institutions in states far from their own homes. By operating in Alabama while hailing from New York and Pennsylvania, the suspects attempted to create a geographical buffer between themselves and the crime scene. Local credit unions are often targeted in these schemes because they may have different security protocols or slower fraud-detection response times than global banking giants.
This incident underscores the ongoing risk of aggregated identity theft, where criminals obtain batches of debit card numbers and PINs to execute rapid-fire ATM withdrawals. The use of 201 separate transactions indicates that the perpetrators had access to a significant list of compromised accounts, rather than just a few stolen cards.
Who leaked the credit union's account information?
Despite the detailed account of the arrests and sentencing, a critical piece of the puzzle remains missing: the origin of the stolen data. The source material does not specify how Eric Kendrie Shuler and Kyara Ivelisse Rosario-Berenguer obtained the debit cards and associated account information for the credit union members.
It remains unknown whether the data was obtained through a sophisticated digital breach, a physical theft of records,or an inside source within the financial institution . Without this information, it is unclear if other credit union members remain at risk or if the security loophole that allowed this $214,800 theft has been fully closed.
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