Bank Fraud Press Releases

March 20, 2014

THOMAS: Former Credit Union President Sentenced to Prison for Fraud and Embezzlement Scheme

October 25, 2013

WILLIAMSON: Former Rap Artist Sentenced to 9+ Years in Prison for Bank Fraud, Access Device Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

October 4, 2013

NGUYEN: Leader of Canada Based Debit Card Skimming Ring Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

September 27, 2013

BERMUDEZ: Identity Thief Who Burglarized Locked Mailboxes Sentenced to 3+ Years in Prison

June 26, 2013

SVIRIDIUK: Oregon Man Sentenced to 4+ Years in Prison for Bank Fraud Scheme Involving Student Loans

February 25, 2013

GOODELL: Former Tacoma Banker Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Defrauding Northwest Commercial Bank

January 16, 2013

WILLIAMSON: California Rap Artist Under Indictment Rearrestted for Continuing Credit Card Fraud

September 18, 2012

PORTMANN: Former VP of Pierce Commercial Bank Pleads Guilty to Fraud

September 7, 2012

FRINK: Redmond Man Indicted for Tax Fraud, Money Laundering and Bank Fraud

July 24, 2012

G-SELLASSIE: Seattle Man Sentenced to Prison for 'Skimming Spree' Across Four Western States

July 13, 2012

WITT: Seattle Man Sentenced to Prison for Computer Hacking, Fraud and Identity Theft

July 12, 2012

WILLIAMSON: California Rap Artist Arrested on Indictment for Purchase and Use of Hacked Debit and Credit Card Information

June 29, 2012

SALI: Leader of 'Skimming' Ring with International Ties Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

June 11, 2012

SCHROOTEN: Dutch Citizen Arrested and Extradited from Romania for Computer Hacking Scheme that Compromised Thousands of Credit Cards

May 25, 2012

SANDLER: 'Skimmer' who Compromised Bank Accounts from Seattle to Denver Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

May 10, 2012

GRIFFIN and LOWE: Two Seattle Men Sentenced to Prison for Computer Hacking, Fraud and Identity Theft

March 9, 2012

SALI: Leader of 'Skimming' Ring with International Ties Pleads Guilty

November 18, 2011

PETRI: Member of Prolific Romanian 'Skimming' Ring Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

November 3, 2011

HAWKINS: Final Member of Multi-State ID Theft and Bank Fraud Ring Sentenced to Prison

September 7, 2011

G-SELLASSIE: Skimming Spree Across the West Ends with Seattle Area Arrests

August 5, 2011

PORTMANN: Four Indicted for Conspiracy that Resulted in Failure of Tacoma Bank

July 29, 2011

KIM: Former Insurance Agent Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

July 8, 2011

TUDOR: Prolific "Skimmer" Sentenced to Prison For Bank Fraud, Conspiracy and Identity Theft

June 23, 2011

ALEXANDER: Seattle Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

June 15, 2011

DANIYELYAN: Members of California-Based Crime Ring Convicted of Bank Fraud

11/18/10 BERG
MERCER ISLAND MAN INDICTED FOR PONZI SCHEME AND BANKRUPTCY FRAUD
Darren Berg Defrauded Investors and Allegedly Tried to Hide Assets During Bankruptcy

11/17/10 DISHCHYAN
MEMBERS OF CALIFORNIA-BASED CRIME RING INDICTED FOR BANK FRAUD
Conspirators Bribed DOL Employee and Used Check Kiting Scheme to Purchase Massive Quantities of Cigarettes

10/21/10 BERG
MERCER ISLAND MAN ARRESTED FOR PONZI SCHEME AND BANKRUPTCY FRAUD
Darren Berg Defrauded Investors and Allegedly Tried to Hide Assets During Bankruptcy

10/20/10 BIVENS
WASHOUGAL, WASHINGTON TAX ATTORNEY PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD AGAINST BANK AND SBA
Attorney Failed to Disclose Side Deals Between Parties and Structured Closing of Business Sale to Conceal Critical Information

8/9/10 SOPO
SEATTLE AREA MAN WHO FLED TO MEXICO, SENTENCED FOR BANK FRAUD IN “LIES FOR LOANS” SCHEME
Defendant Defrauded Credit Unions with Phony Purchase Orders for Luxury Cars

5/28/10 MAIDEN
LEADER OF IDENTITY THEFT AND BANK FRAUD RING SENTENCED TO PRISON
Defendant Arranged Travel to Northwest for Ring Attempting Bank Account Takeovers

5/14/10 KENNELLY
FORMER BANK VICE PRESIDENT SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR HIDING FACTS IN BANK AUDIT
Bank of Clark County Closed in January 2009 After FDIC Examination

5/13/10 SOPO
SEATTLE AREA MAN WHO FLED TO MEXICO, PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD IN “LIES FOR LOANS” SCHEME
Defendant Defrauded Credit Unions with Phony Purchase Orders for Luxury Cars

4/30/10 HAWKINS
DISBARRED LAWYER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR MAIL FRAUD IN CREDIT CARD DEBT ELIMINATION SCHEME
Gig Harbor Man Defrauded Struggling Consumers Providing False “Credit Help”

3/29/10 CHILL
FORMER LONGVIEW CONTRACTOR SENTENCED FOR MAIL FRAUD, BANK FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING
Former Owner of Damage Restoration Company Submitted $3.2 Million in Inflated Claims to Insurance Companies and Defrauded SBA of additional $2 million

3/17/10 POFF
FORMER WASHINGTON RESIDENT CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE COUNTS OF CONSPIRACY, BANK FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD, AND MONEY LAUNDERING IN MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME
Loan Originator Forged Documents, Defrauded Banks and Sellers in Scheme

2/5/10 JANG
LEADER OF $3 MILLION E-FENCING OPERATION AND ID THEFT RING GETS EIGHT AND A HALF YEAR PRISON TERM FOR BANK FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED ID THEFT
Decade-long Scheme Stealing Credit Cards From Gym Lockers to Purchase and Fence High-end Goods

1/15/10 ANDERSON
TACOMA MAN WHO CHANGED HIS NAME A DOZEN TIMES IN EIGHT YEARS SENTENCED FOR BANK FRAUD
Defendant Abused Name Change System to Repeatedly Defraud Banks and Merchants

1/11/10 EARL
LEADER OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND BANK FRAUD RING SENTENCED TO 8+ YEARS IN PRISON
Ring Skimmed Credit Cards and Shipped Multi-Kilo Packs of Marijuana to Chicago Area

1/8/10 ASATOORIANS
SEATTLE AREA MAN SENTENCED IN “LIES FOR LOANS” SCHEME
Defendant Defrauded Credit Unions with Phony Purchase Orders for Luxury Cars

1/8/10 KOBZAR
LEADER OF $47 MILLION MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME SENTENCED TO PRISON
Mortgage Fraud Scheme Used Web of Companies and False Loan Documents

12/18/09 BAYDOVSKIY
LEADER OF $47 MILLION MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME SENTENCED TO PRISON
Leader of Mortgage Fraud Scheme that Used Web of Companies and False Loan Documents

11/18/09 CERNA
MEXICAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 21 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR 200K BANK FRAUD SCHEME
Seattle Resident Abused Name Change System to Cheat Banks on Debit Card Purchases

11/13/09 BRITT
RENTON MAN SENTENCED TO 5+ YEARS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED ID THEFT
Decade-long Scheme Stealing Credit Cards From Gym Lockers to Purchase and Sell High-end Goods

11/6/09 BUITRON
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR MAIL AND WIRE FRAUD SCHEME
Owner of Internet Medical Supply Company Used Customer’s Credit Cards for Own Purchases

10/9/09 ASATOORIANS
SEATTLE AREA MAN FOUND GUILTY IN “LIES FOR LOANS” SCHEME
Defendant Defrauded Credit Unions with Phony Purchase Orders for Luxury Cars

10/5/09 KOBAY
FINAL GUILTY PLEA IN $47 MILLION MORTGAGE FRAUD SCHEME
Defendants Agree to Forfeit $2.5 Million, Luxury Cars and Yacht

9/29/09 WHITTECAR
KENT MAN SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD AND WEAPONS CHARGES
Defendant and Cohorts Cloned Credit Cards used at Car Wash, Fast Food Chain

9/21/09 HAWKINS
DISBARRED LAWYER INDICTED FOR CREDIT CARD DEBT ELIMINATION SCHEME
Gig Harbor Man Defrauded Struggling Consumers Providing False “Credit Help”

8/20/09 HARDY-GORDON
THREE SEATTLE AREA WOMEN SENTENCED FOR BANK FRAUD SCHEME IN “OPERATION HONOR ROLE”
Defendants Stole Identities to Apply for More than $2 Million in Student Loans

7/10/09 TATUM
FORMER BANK BRANCH ASSISTANT MANAGER SENTENCED FOR ASSISTING FRAUDULENT SCHEME
Tacoma Woman Told Co-Conspirators Best Ways to Avoid Detection

5/29/09 FULLER
LEADER OF BANK FRAUD RING SENTENCED TO 6+ YEARS IN PRISON
Recruited Naive Bank Customers to Allow Fraudulent Transactions in Their Accounts

5/8/09 STURGIS
LOS ANGELES MAN WHO TRAVELED TO NORTHWEST FOR BANK FRAUD SENTENCED TO PRISON
Defendant and Co-Conspirator Arrested at Sea-Tac with Cache of Fake ID’s

5/8/09 HARDY, et. al.
FOUR SEATTLE AREA WOMEN PLEAD GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD SCHEME IN “OPERATION HONOR ROLE”
Defendants Stole Identities to Apply for More than $2 Million in Student Loans

5/1/09 BURRAGE
ID THEFT RING INDICTED FOR USING STOLEN IDENTITIES TO RUN UP MORE THAN $125,000 IN “INSTANT CREDIT” CHARGES
Last of Five Defendants to Make First Appearance at 1:30 Today

2/13/09 CRAFT
TACOMA MAN WHO LEGALLY CHANGED NAME MULTIPLE TIMES TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON
Defendant Legally Changed His Name Thirteen Times in Ten Years

1/30/09 STURGIS
LOS ANGELES MAN WHO TRAVELED TO NORTHWEST FOR BANK FRAUD PLEADS GUILTY
Defendant and Co-Conspirator Arrested at Sea-Tac with Cache of Fake ID’s

1/23/09 JENSEN
MAN WHO DEFRAUDED BANKS ACROSS TWO STATES SENTENCED TO TEN YEAR PRISON TERM
ID Thief Used Fake Identification to Make Cash Withdrawals From Customer Accounts

1/16/09 ASLANYAN
OWNER OF REDMOND TOBACCO STORE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD
“Smoker’s Choice” Owner Skimmed Credit and Debit Cards of more than 300 Victims

10/21/08 STEWART
PROLIFIC FORGER AND IDENTITY THIEF SENTENCED TO SEVENTY SIX MONTHS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT
Black Diamond Man Forged IDs, Checks and Even Law Enforcement Badges to Commit Fraud

7/11/08 MOORE
FINAL DEFENDANT IN “OPERATION JOY RIDE” GETS FOUR YEAR PRISON TERM - Ring Purchased High-end Cars Using Other People’s Identities and Credit

6/27/08 CRUZ
FEDERAL WAY WOMAN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD, ID THEFT AND ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION - Repeat Offender Used Stolen Mail, Information from Burglaries to Commit Fraud

6/25/08 FIEDLER
OLYMPIA WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON IN CONNECTION WITH “NIGERIAN CHECK FRAUD” SCAM - Defendant Drawn in to Criminal Conspiracy by Man She Met on Internet

4/25/08 HAWKINS
BELLEVUE MAN AND TEXAS ATTORNEY EACH SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY, WIRE FRAUD - Pair Attempted to Collect Millions From "Selling" Houses They Did Not Own

4/11/08 GAMEZ
PAIR SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR SCHEME TO OVERDRAW DEBIT CARDS - Conspirators Posed as Bank Employee to approve Purchases on Overdrawn Debit Cards

3/20/08 FIEDLER
OLYMPIA WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN CONNECTION WITH "NIGERIAN CHECK" SCAM - Defendant Drawn in to Criminal Conspiracy by Man She Met on Internet

2/15/08 NELSON
PROLIFIC NAME CHANGER SENTENCED TO PRISON IN BANK FRAUD SCHEME - Tacoma Woman Top Abuser of Legal Name Change System to Steal $46,000

2/14/08 FULLER
FEDS NAB KING COUNTY MAN WANTED FOR BANK FRAUD - Defendant Indicted By Grand Jury for $380,000+ Fraud Using Phony Checks and Cash Withdrawals

1/22/08 JAMES
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED TO 5+ YEARS IN PRISON FOR LEADING MULTI-STATE BANK FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT RING

1/14/08 KALINA
RENTON MAN SENTENCED TO 45 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT - Defendant made Counterfeit Checks and Drivers Licenses to Steal More than $10,000

12/17/07 HAWKINS/SKEINS
BELLEVUE MAN AND TEXAS ATTORNEY CONVICTED OF CONSPIRACY, WIRE FRAUD - Judge Orders Pair into Custody Following Two Week Jury Trial

11/30/07 KILEN
LAKEWOOD MAN SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD - Former Employee of Key Bank Drained More Than $138,000 from Customer Accounts

11/30/07 SMITH
TACOMA MAN CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT FOR INTERNET CREDIT CARD SCAM - Man Used Credit Card Information from Records Provided by an Insider at a Tukwila Hotel

11/13/07 YOUNG
FORMER TAX PREP EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD, AND AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT - Seattle Woman Used Personal Information from H & R Block Customers to get Tax Refund Loans

10/22/07 ROBERTS
FORMER WHATCOM COUNTY WOMAN SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN PRISON IN CONNECTION WITH CONSPIRACY, TAX FRAUD, BANK FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT - Stole the Identities of Family Members and Tax Return Prep Customers to Commit Fraud

9/24/07 O'FLAHERTY
SEATTLE MAN SENTENCED FOR FALSIFYING BANK RECORDS - Mislead Auditors about Financial Health of Loan Customer

6/8/07 MOORE
FORGER LINKED TO MULTIPLE IDENTITY THIEVES SENTENCED TO 5+ YEARS IN PRISON - Key Player in Bank Fraud Schemes that Victimized Dozens

5/22/07 O'FLAHERTY
SEATTLE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FALSIFYING BANK RECORDS - Mislead Auditors about Financial Health of Loan Customer

3/14/07 ROBERTS
FORMER WHATCOM COUNTY WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY IN CONNECTION WITH CONSPIRACY, TAX FRAUD, BANK FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT - Allegedly Stole the Identities of Family Members and Tax Return Prep Customers to Commit Fraud

3/12/07 MORED
SOUTH KING COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ID THEFT/BANK FRAUD SCHEME - Identity Information Stolen While Defendant Worked as Janitor at Us Bank

2/8/07 EDWARDS
REPEAT IDENTITY THIEF SENTENCED TO THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON - Defendant Used Stolen Mail from More than 50 Victims to Commit Bank Fraud

2/7/07 GRIFFIN
GRAND JURY INDICTS ID THEFT RING THAT USED INSIDERS AT A MORTGAGE COMPANY AND ESCROW FIRM TO STEAL PERSONAL INFORMATION - Conspirators Responsible for More than $335,000 in Fraud

1/30/07 MOORE
FORGER LINKED TO MULTIPLE IDENTITY THIEVES PLEADS GUILTY - Key Player in Bank Fraud Schemes that Victimized Dozens

1/26/07 HENNINGS
SEATTLE WOMAN SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR STEALING INFO FROM EMERGENCY ROOM PATIENTS - Woman Worked for Medical Billing Company; Stole Credit Card Numbers Used in Fraud

1/19/07 LEE
KOREAN NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 41 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD SCHEME - Defendant Led Group That Used False Korean Passports to Commit Bank Fraud Across the Country

12/12/06 HOLST
PUYALLUP MAN INDICTED FOR BANK FRAUD, BANKRUPTCY FRAUD, MONEY LAUNDERING AND EVASION OF TAXES - Defendant Owned and Operated Dump Truck Hauling Company and Rock, Dirt and Gravel Company

11/17/06 ROBERTS
FORMER WHATCOM COUNTY COUPLE INDICTED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSPIRACY, TAX FRAUD, BANK FRAUD, WIRE FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT - Allegedly Stole the Identities of family members and Tax Return Prep Customers to Commit Fraud

8/18/06 COOPER
SEVENTH MEMBER OF COUNTERFEIT TRAVELERS CHEQUE RING SENTENCED TO PRISON - Ring members passed more than $300,000 in counterfeit cheques across several states

5/5/06 LUCO
FORMER BANK MANAGER SENTENCED TO 15 MONTHS FOR BANK FRAUD - Puyallup woman tranferred more than $100,000 from bank and customer accounts for her own use

4/28/06 LUKE
FORMER TACOMA EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR BANK FRAUD - Executive Set up Fraudulent Deals to Make Payroll Using Line of Credit

1/13/06 SIMS
THREE LEADERS OF COUNTERFEIT TRAVELERS CHEQUE RING SENTENCED TO PRISON - Ring members passed more than $300,000 in counterfeit cheques across several states

12/22/05 LUCO
FORMER BANK MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO BANK FRAUD - Puyallup woman transferred more than $100,000 from bank and customer accounts for her own use

12/5/05 DAY
Kirkland Computer Game Company Executive Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud - CEO claimed Disney was purchasing her company to try to buy "dream home" on Mercer Island

11/18/05 HENDERSON
Repeat Offender Gets 50 Months for Credit Card Fraud Scheme - Woman posed as credit card representative authorizing large cash withdrawals on phony credit cards

11/18/05 CASSINI
Bellevue Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Bank and Wire Fraud - Masqueraded as Microsoft millionaire to commit bank fraud

7/28/05 CASSINI
Bellevue Man Who Masqueraded as Microsoft Millionaire Pleads Guilty to Bank and Wire Fraud

3/9/05 LUKE
Former Tacoma Executive Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud