Isn't the nuance mostly or only the fraudulently obtained debit cards?

I suspect the case hinged on that, and everything else was legal, albeit part of the fraud, and was included as a complete description of the scheme.

To be fair, I'm guessing he couldn't have created the scale of fake accounts without debit card fraud, but creating multiple accounts, even if they're fake, is usually just a TOS violation, or maybe a civil matter, not criminal.

Could be a separate charge, I agree that's an even clearer cut.

But I was responding to the comment touching on more general seemingly ambiguous situations.

What makes Terms of Service / contract violations a different case than deceit for financial profit. Why is one tolerated by justice but the other condemned as criminal activity.

But you are right, debit card fraud, wire fraud and the likes are clearly defined as criminal.