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Press Release

Holyoke Woman Charged with Bank Fraud and Identity Theft

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

Boston – A Holyoke woman was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with bank fraud and identity theft.

Heather Bingle, 26, was indicted on two counts of bank fraud and two counts of identity theft. According to court documents, Bingle was a member of a Cape Cod-based group of conspirators committing retail fraud. Bingle and others allegedly used counterfeit motor vehicle licenses and other forms of identification issued in the names of third parties to open up retail credit cards; they then used the newly issued lines of credit to buy thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise. Specifically, Bingle fraudulently assumed a woman’s identity in order to obtain a credit card in the woman’s name at a retail store in Holyoke. Bingle then used the card to purchase almost $4,000 worth of items. Bingle committed the same fraud at a store in Attleboro, where she allegedly purchased $1,487 worth of merchandise.

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1million. The charge of identity theft provides for a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Yarmouth Police Chief Fred Fredrickson made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

 

Updated May 26, 2017

Topic
Identity Theft