Jury Convicts Connecticut Woman of Bank Fraud, False Statement in a Passport Application, and Aggravated Identity Theft

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on November 7, 2017, a Burlington jury convicted Alison Yi Gu of Cheshire, Connecticut of three charges relating to her use of false identities. Specifically, the jury convicted Gu, who also went by the names Alison Ling, Yijing Gu, Ally Koo, Ai J. Chen, Ai Jen Chen, and Jing Shao, of (1) bank fraud, (2) making a false statement in an application for a U.S. Passport, and (3) aggravated identity theft involving the use of the Social Security Number and date of birth of another person. The verdict was returned following a one-week trial. Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss presided over the trial.

According to the Superseding Indictment, between 2013 and September 2015, Gu devised and executed a scheme to defraud Bank of Bennington, First National Bank of America, Prime Lending, Discover Home Loans, and Emigrant Mortgage Company to obtain funds by submitting mortgage loan applications containing false information. The Indictment specified that the false information included misrepresenting Gu's identity, and altering bank statements. The Indictment further charged Gu with making a false statement in a passport application at the United States Passport Office in St. Albans, Vermont in March 2015, as well as using the identity of another person in the commission of that crime. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all three counts.

Following the jury's verdict, Chief Judge Reiss ordered Gu remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service.

Gu's sentencing is expected to occur in approximately four months, but is not yet scheduled. She faces a minimum sentence of two years, and a maximum term of thirty years' incarceration.

The conviction of Gu was the culmination of an investigation by the United States State Department, Diplomatic Security Service, working with the assistance of the Danbury, Connecticut Police Department.

Gu is represented by Lisa Shelkrot and Manisha Munshi of Burlington. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Doyle and Michael P. Drescher.