Buffalo Woman Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Ashley Hollins, 29, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty today to bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maura K. O’Donnell, and Elizabeth R. Moellering, who are handling the case, stated that between 2010 and 2015, the defendant opened bank accounts in her name, and in the names of others, at various area banks. Hollins then wrote and negotiated, or attempted to negotiate, over 200 checks against these bank accounts, totaling approximately $55,860. The defendant knew that the bank accounts did not have sufficient funds to cover the amounts of the checks. Hollins also withdrew funds from some of the accounts before the banks realized that the checks would not clear or that the accounts on which they were drawn had been closed. 

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the United States Postal Service Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski, Boston Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2017 before Judge Vilardo.