Vallejo Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Multiyear, Multistate Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Scheme

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Deshawn A. Ray, 43, of Vallejo, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to 12 years and one month in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to evidence presented at trial, from March 2008 until July 2010, Ray and co-conspirator Reginald L. Thomas conducted a multistate “account takeover” scheme that identified high-value accounts at several banks. Members of the conspiracy used the personal information of high-value account holders to open joint accounts in the names of the high-value account holders and co-conspirators. The defendants also changed the contact information so that the account holders would not receive notice of account activity. The defendants then transferred funds from the high-value accounts to the joint accounts and then to individual accounts held by members of the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy—many of whom Ray recruited and supervised—withdrew the proceeds of the fraudulent transfers in cash, cashiers’ checks or wire transfers before the transfers were noticed by the banks and reversed.

This case was the product of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, the Pinellas County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, and the Walnut Creek (California) Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew G. Morris and Brian A. Fogerty prosecuted the case.

Co-defendant Reginald L. Thomas, 40, of Richmond, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to serve three years and nine months in prison. Co-defendant Damion Edgerson, 40, of Oakland, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison. Co-defendant Tiffany Tung, 27, of Oakland, pleaded guilty to accepting a bribe as a bank employee. Tung was sentenced to a two-year term of probation.