Alison Gu Arraigned On Charges Of Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and False Statements In Connection With Passport Application

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Alison Gu, 40, of Cheshire, Connecticut was arraigned today in federal court on a three-count indictment charging her with bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false statements in connection with a passport application. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered that Gu be released on conditions, including that she not open new lines of credit, pending trial in this matter. If convicted, Gu faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years in prison for bank fraud; up to 10 years in prison for making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport; and a mandatory 2-year sentence for using the identifying information of another person in connection with the passport application. Gu also faces potential fines of up to $1,000,000.

According to court records, between March and September 2015, Gu, using several aliases, obtained over $1,000,000 through submission of mortgage loan applications and re-financing applications to Bank of Bennington, First National Bank of America, and Emigrant Mortgage Company containing false information. The fraud scheme included the establishment of false identities using the Social Security Numbers of deceased individuals; the submission of altered bank statements, forged employment records, and forged pay statements to the financial institutions; and the forged signature of a United States consular official in China. Also according to the indictment, Gu made false statements in a March 27, 2015 application for a U.S. passport in Vermont. Gu submitted the passport application using the identifying information of another individual. The indictment also alleges that certain properties in Vermont and Florida are forfeitable to the United States as proceeds of the fraud scheme.

Gu was arrested in Connecticut on June 13, 2016, and made an appearance in federal court that day, where she was ordered to appear today in Burlington.

United States Attorney Eric S. Miller emphasized that the indictment is an accusation only and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Should Gu be convicted of the charged crimes, the sentence will be advised by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The investigative agency in this case is the United States Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, St. Albans, Vermont Resident Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Doyle is handling the prosecution of this matter. Gu is represented by David L. McColgin, Esq. of the Federal Defender’s Office.