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Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Bowie, Maryland, woman was convicted today of bank fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Tonia Latrice Lewis, 47, obtained the identities of dozens of victims and used those identities to open bank accounts and apply for loans in the names of the victims, without their knowledge or consent. Lewis submitted over 30 applications to open accounts and get access to funds from various financial institutions, including Pentagon Federal Credit Union, Lafayette Federal Credit Union, U.S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union, Interior Federal Credit Union, D.C. Teachers Federal Credit Union, M&T Bank, and others. Lewis’ scheme included fabricating driver’s licenses and falsifying records submitted in support of these applications. Lewis used the proceeds from the fraud in part to purchase jewelry, items of clothing, and to gamble at a casino in West Virginia.
Lewis faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for the bank fraud, 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million for the mail fraud, and mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft when sentenced on August 18. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; J. Thomas Manger, Montgomery County Chief of Police, made the announcement after a bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine L. Wong and Michael Culhane Harper of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-25.