Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Antwan Green, 32, of Buffalo, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, Jr., who is handling the prosecution, stated that the defendant was part of a conspiracy to defraud local area banks by participating in a “Check Kiting” scheme. Green, and others, opened bank accounts and deposited large checks to the accounts. The deposited checks were written on accounts that had insufficient funds or on accounts that had been closed. Before the banks determined that the checks were not supported by any funds, the defendant and others withdrew smaller amounts from the accounts. Green actually made away with $35,547.93, but the amount of the intended loss was more than $367,000.

All five defendants in this case have been convicted.

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tracy Gast.