California Man Indicted for Bank Fraud Charges

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a North Hollywood, California, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Bank Fraud.

Jude Cooper, age 30, was indicted on January 17, 2018.   He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 6, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 30 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on August 24, 2015, August 25, 2015, and August 27, 2015, Cooper submitted forged wired transfer requests to BankWest Inc., and requested that the funds be wired from a BankWest Inc. account to a Wells Fargo account.

The charges are merely accusations and Cooper is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.   

Cooper was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.