Indictment Alleges Five Fraudsters Ran Scheme To Bilk Banks

PHILADELPHIA - Eric Hudson, 21, Keith Larke, 36, Warren Smith, 51, Anwar Hameen, 33, all  of Philadelphia, PA, and Fred Rush, 34, of Lansdale, PA, were charged by indictment, unsealed today, in a bank fraud scheme in which they attempted to deposit more than $1 million worth of bogus checks, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The defendants are charged with conspiracy, bank fraud, and numerous counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, between July 20, 2007 and September 26, 2014, the defendants obtained the names, account numbers and personal identification numbers (PINs) of TD Bank customers and, with their co-conspirators, used that information to deposit bad checks into TD Bank accounts.  They then attempted to quickly withdraw funds from those accounts through point of sale transactions and the purchase of United States postal money orders.  It is further alleged that in order to accomplish the financial fraud, the defendants recruited and paid some account holders to open accounts at TD Bank and then turn over the account information so that they could use it to deposit the bad checks and make the  withdrawals.  The indictment alleges that during the course of the conspiracy, the defendants deposited bogus checks totaling more than $1,195,331.83 and fraudulently obtained more than $607,813.10 through ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases.

If convicted, each defendant faces a two year mandatory minimum sentence with the following maximum statutory sentences: Eric Hudson faces up to 77 years in prison; Keith Larke and Fred Rush each face up to 57 years in prison; Warren Smith and Anwar Hameen each face up to 55 years in prison; plus possible fines and supervised release.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Secret Service, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne Osirim.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.