News Release
U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney
District of Rhode Island
March 14, 2008
Two are sentenced in check fraud scheme
A federal judge has sentenced John P. Perras and David G. Chavez, both of West Warwick, for a fraudulent check scheme in which Chavez obtained account information of Citizens Bank account holders, and Perras then manufactured fraudulent checks on personal computers. A total of seven defendants in the check scheme – who have all pleaded guilty to federal charges – obtained about $83,000, and attempted to obtain an additional $16,000.
United States Attorney Robert Clark Corrente announced the sentences, which Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ernest C. Torres imposed yesterday in U.S. District Court, Providence. Judge Torres sentenced Perras to 51 months in federal prison, and Chavez to eight months.
In November, Perras pleaded guilty to orchestrating the fraud scheme. Chavez, who worked at Citizens Bank, pleaded guilty in December to his role in the scheme. At the plea hearings, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Beckner said the government could prove that Chavez obtained account information of several commercial account holders at Citizens Bank, including account numbers, account holders’ names, traces of signatures, and account balances.
Perras used the account information to manufacture counterfeit checks, using commercial software on personal computers belonging to two codefendants – Jason M. Turcios and Saffiyah Abdullah, who have also pleaded guilty. Perras then had Turcios, Abdullah, and three other codefendants either cash the checks at Citizens or deposit them in accounts at Domestic Bank and then withdraw cash.
The conspirators successfully obtained $68,929 from Citizens Bank and $14,561 from Domestic Bank. They failed in attempts to obtain an additional $16,500 from Citizens. When
Secret Service agents executed a search warrant at Abdullah’s house, where Perras was also staying, they found an additional $325,000 in counterfeit checks.
Perras, 24, of Maple Avenue, West Warwick, and Chavez, 24, of Providence Street, West Warwick, and the other five defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and various counts of bank fraud.
Turcios, 24, of Gough Avenue, West Warwick, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 27, and Abdullah, 30, of Ruther Glen Avenue, Providence, on April 1.
Karen M. Lynch, 32, of Governor Street, Providence, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18; Matthew M. Domenicone, 24, of Rawlinson Drive, Coventry, on April 15; and April L. Moretti, 22, of Magadalene Street, Providence, on April 3.
All defendants except Perras and Moretti have been free on bond since being arrested. Perras, who has several prior state convictions for counterfeiting and forgery, has been detained. Moretti is held on a state bail violation.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Providence, Cranston, and Warwick Police Departments.
Contact: 401-709-5032 Thomas.connell@usdoj.gov