U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Nine Individuals Charged With Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York
Alleged Scheme Involved Deposits of Fake Checks
Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Philip Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced charges against SAIBO SIDIBEH, MOUKHAMED FALL, MAMADY DANFAKHA, ALHANSA HYDARA, MAMADOU DIALLO, DEMBA DIAKITE, MOHAMMED SABALY, BANGALY DOUMBIA, and ABUBACKR DANSO for their involvement in a bank fraud scheme involving the deposit of more than $700,000 of fraudulent checks and the subsequent withdrawal of funds. SIDIBEH, FALL, HYDARA, and DANSO were arrested on August 12, 2020, and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. DANFAKHA, DIALLO, DIAKITE, and DOUMBIA were arrested this morning and are expected to be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron in Manhattan federal court. SABALY remains at large.
As alleged in the criminal Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:
Between at least July 2018 and at least August 2019, SAIBO SIDIBEH, MOUKHAMED FALL, MAMADY DANFAKHA, ALHANSA HYDARA, MAMADOU DIALLO, DEMBA DIAKITE, MOHAMMED SABALY, BANGALY DOUMBIA, and ABUBACKR DANSO engaged in a scheme to defraud banks by depositing fraudulent, forged, or altered checks into the bank accounts of third parties at ATMs in the Bronx, Manhattan, and elsewhere. Before the bank realized that a check was invalid, the defendants withdrew the funds, typically by purchasing postal money orders. In total, the defendants deposited more than $700,000 in fraudulent checks.
* * *
A chart containing the names, charges, and penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPIS and the NYPD.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew A. Rohrbach is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
|
Count |
Charge |
Defendant(s) |
Maximum/minimum penalties |
|
1 |
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1349 |
MOUKHAMED FALL, MAMADY DANFAKHA, MAMADOU DIALLO, ALHASANA HYDARA, DEMBA DIAKITE |
30 years |
|
2 |
Bank fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2 |
MOUKHAMED FALL, MAMADY DANFAKHA, MAMADOU DIALLO, ALHASANA HYDARA, DEMBA DIAKITE |
30 years |
|
3 |
Aggravated identity theft
18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2 |
MOUKHAMED FALL, MAMADY DANFAKHA, MAMADOU DIALLO, ALHASANA HYDARA, DEMBA DIAKITE |
Mandatory two-year consecutive sentence |
|
4 |
Bank fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2 |
MOHAMMED SABALY |
30 years |
|
5 |
Aggravated identity theft
18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2 |
MOHAMMED SABALY |
Mandatory two-year consecutive sentence |
|
6 |
Bank fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2 |
SAIBO SIDIBEH |
30 years |
|
7 |
Aggravated identity theft
18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2 |
SAIBO SIDIBEH |
Mandatory two-year consecutive sentence |
|
8 |
Bank fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2 |
BANGALY DOUMBIA |
30 years |
|
9 |
Aggravated identity theft
18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2 |
BANGALY DOUMBIA |
Mandatory two-year consecutive sentence |
|
10 |
Bank fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 and 2 |
ABUBACKR DANSO |
30 years |
|
11 |
Aggravated identity theft
18 U.S.C. §§ 1028A(a)(1), 1028A(b), and 2 |
ABUBACKR DANSO |
Mandatory two-year consecutive sentence |
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein are only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Contact
James Margolin, Nicholas Biase
(212) 637-2600
Updated August 19, 2020
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