A Quebec man arrested in a sophisticated debit card skimming scam that milked nearly $150,000 from local cardholders has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Elia Yazigi pleaded guilty Monday to 20 fraud and theft related offences and one count of committing an offence to benefit a criminal organization.

Court heard Yazigi, 21, and two co-accused, none of whom live in Manitoba, visited six local restaurants and businesses last spring and summer and surreptitiously replaced their debit card keypads with a dummy device. Yazigi and his co-accused altered the keypads before returning them later in the day, after which they would use a tablet or cell phone to wirelessly download the debit or credit card data.

Yaziga was arrested Aug. 22 after security video "caught him in the act" at an Asia City restaurant, Crown attorney Terry McComb told court. When arrested, Yazigi was found in possession of an 80-business "hit list."

Nearly $150,000 worth of cash and goods was stolen before Yaziga was arrested. Had he not been arrested, the potential losses, based on available credit card balances and debit card limits, could have been as high as $3.1 million, McComb said.

Within three days of one theft, one cardholder's data was used in California and days later in Italy, speaking to the scope and sophistication of the theft ring, McComb said.

Approximately 1,400 credit and debit cards had to be replaced as a result of the thefts. Financial losses were covered by each cardholder's bank.

The ringleaders have never been identified.

"Mr. Yazigi was the unfortunate front man sent in to take the risk," McComb said.

Yazigi, who has no prior criminal record, had no real appreciation of the trouble he was in, said defence lawyer Darren Sawchuk.

Yazigi "started hanging around the wrong people... opportunity knocked and he walked through," Sawchuk said. "He was a bit of a dupe, smart but stupid at the same time."

Judge Ray Wyant ordered Yazigi pay $48,000 in restitution, or one-third the amount he and his two co-accused are credited with stealing.

dean.pritchard@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @deanatwpgsun