Great Falls man sentenced to 51 months in prison for fraudulent check, stolen identity scheme

GREAT FALLS  — A Great Falls man who admitted using stolen personal identifying information to make fraudulent checks in a scheme to spend almost $40,000 at area businesses was sentenced on Dec. 19 to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

John Brendan Dailey, 52, pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris also ordered $28,359 restitution.

The government alleged that in 2019 and 2020, Dailey participated in a fraudulent check scheme where he used fake identification cards, stolen checks and check printing software and materials to create new checks with valid account numbers. Dailey then used the fake identification cards and altered checks to spend almost $40,000 at businesses in the Great Falls and surrounding area. Dailey’s conduct affected dozens of victims and impersonated numerous real individuals, who suffered financial loss and now face a lifetime of monitoring whether someone is using their personal information.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica A. Betley prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Great Falls Police Department.

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