United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

JAMAICAN CITIZEN ADMITS LEADING BRIDGEPORT-AREA BANK FRAUD CONSPIRACY

Nora R. Dannehy, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SADIKI KOMUNYAKA LESLIE, 28, a citizen of Jamaica, pleaded guilty yesterday, April 1, before Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

According to court documents and statements made in court, LESLIE devised and led a conspiracy to defraud People’s Bank.  Beginning is approximately April 2005, LESLIE and others obtained checks associated with closed bank accounts or open accounts with little or no balance, and ATM cards and personal identifying numbers (“PINs”) associated with open bank accounts with little or no balance.  LESLIE and his co-conspirators then deposited  “dummy” checks, which typically ranged from $2500 to $6000, at People’s Bank ATMs in the greater Bridgeport area.  Before the bank detected the fraud, a member of the conspiracy would withdraw cash from People’s Bank ATMs.  Members of the conspiracy also would use the ATM cards at local stores to purchase goods and withdraw additional cash from the People’s Bank accounts.

As a leader of the scheme, LESLIE approached other individuals to give him their checkbooks and would pay them for the checks.  He also received ATM cards and PINs from others whom he would pay if he was able to withdraw money from the account.

Through this scheme, LESLIE and his co-conspirators deposited $509,447 in fraudulent checks at People’s Bank ATMs, and the bank lost $310,475 as a result.

Judge Thompson has scheduled sentencing for July 6, 2010, at which time LESLIE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Connecticut State Police, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David T. Huang.

CONTACT:

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