South Euclid Woman Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Identitiy Theft And Fraud

A South Euclid woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison for her role in a variety of schemes that resulted in a loss of more than $73,000, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Angelique Bankston, 42, was also ordered to pay $73,554 in restitution. She was convicted last year on 23 counts, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering, aggravated identity theft and related charges.

Jocelyn Hale, 32, of Cleveland, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracies and is currently serving a 45-month prison sentence.

Bankston and Hale, using identities of several individuals without their authority, defrauded Citizens Bank, Lending Club Corporation, and Wells Fargo Bank.

Bankston and Hale funded a Wells Fargo Bank account with counterfeit funds totaling $13,027.22. They also funded a second Wells Fargo Bank account with illegally obtained funds, according to court documents.

Bankston also defrauded the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and Dollar Bank. She funded a Dollar Bank account with illegally obtained funds totaling $27,460. Bankston defrauded ODJFS by causing the United States Postal Service to hold mail for several individuals, without their authority. Bankston then stole U.S. Bank ReliaCards issued by ODFJS in the amount of $2,800 in the names of those individuals, according to court documents.

“This defendant stole from banks, private citizens and the government,” Dettelbach said.

“Investigating identity theft and money laundering is a priority for Criminal Investigation,” said Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Cincinnati Field Office.  “Stealing identities is a serious crime that hurts innocent taxpayers.  Be assured that IRS Criminal Investigation, together with our partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office, will hold those who engage in similar behavior fully accountable."

Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland office, said: “This individual lined her greedy pockets by taking advantage of others via numerous schemes and is being held accountable for her illegal actions.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark S. Bennett, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Postal Service, Cleveland.