Fair Oaks Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Illegal Possession of Identification Documents

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Trevor Kintaro Lichnock-Gembe, 28, of Fair Oaks, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful possession of identification documents of others, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between June 14, 2105, and June 1, 2016, Lichnock-Gembe and co-defendant Shellby L. Moore, 29, of Sacramento, stole mail and obtained other stolen property containing personal and financial information of victims from residential and vehicle burglaries in Placer County, Sacramento County, and El Dorado County. Lichnock-Gembe and Moore used stolen mail and victim identification and financial information to alter and manufacture checks that were cashed at the expense of local banks and credit unions. Lichnock-Gembe possessed over five different stolen victim identifications, and he and Moore opened bank accounts using the stolen personal and financial information in order to deposit stolen checks and withdraw cash. Lichnock-Gembe was arrested on June 1, 2016, while fleeing a Sacramento apartment complex at which he had just stolen mail.

This case is the product of an investigation of the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the Placer County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

Lichnock-Gembe is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. on December 1, 2016. Lichnock-Gembe faces up to 30 years for bank fraud conviction and up to 15 additional years for the false documents conviction. Lichnock-Gembe will receive two additional consecutive years in prison for his use of another's identity to commit the bank fraud offenses. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Moore is scheduled for a status conference on October 6, 2016, before Judge England. The charges against her are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.