United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force: HARTFORD WOMAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR ROLE IN COUNTERFEIT CHECK SCHEME

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that QUIANA MAYO, also known as “Shakira Acevedo” and “April Knight,” 34, of Hartford, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her involvement in a scheme to cash counterfeit checks at various Connecticut bank branches.  On January 21, 2009, MAYO pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2007, MAYO cashed or attempted to cash approximately 30 counterfeit checks at branches of Webster Bank, People’s United Bank, and TD Banknorth throughout Connecticut.  The counterfeit checks were drawn on bank accounts of real companies and Connecticut municipalities.

In December 2003, MAYO was convicted in state court of identity theft and two counts of larceny, for which she served approximately three years of imprisonment.  MAYO was released from prison in May 2006 and was on parole when she engaged in the bank fraud scheme in the summer of 2007.

Today, Judge DRONEY ordered MAYO to pay restitution in the total amount of $30,225.95 to the victim banks.

This matter was investigated by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, which is composed of representatives from the United States Secret Service; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; the Connecticut State Police, and the Greenwich, Manchester and New Haven Police Departments.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward Chang.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov