D.C. Woman Sentenced in Library of Congress Identity Fraud

A 35-year-old Southeast Washington woman was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for using the purloined identities of Library of Congress employees to purchases nearly $40,000 in goods.

Federal prosecutors said Labiska Gibbs enlisted a relative, a Library of Congress worker, to access an internal database and give her the names, birth dates and Social Security numbers of at least 10 employees, prosecutors said.

Gibbs used that information to open credit accounts at retailers, including Target and Victoria's Secret. In court papers, Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenn S. Leon said Gibbs made a living selling gift cards she fraudulently purchased.

U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts said Gibbs went "on a spree ripping off people's good names."

"The havoc your crime is causing your victims is huge," Roberts said.

In a letter to the employees that she read in court, Gibbs apologized, saying "I have caused you and your families a great deal of pain."

Gibbs's second cousin, William Sinclair Jr., 27, was sentenced to three years of probation for his role in the scam. Prosecutors said Gibbs approached Sinclair and that he did not receive any money for his participation.