Buffalo Woman Pleads Guilty To Structuring

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051
 
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jessica Lopez, 28, of Buffalo,, NY, pleaded guilty to structuring before Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that between July 2012, and January 18, 2013, the defendant, who was working as a teller at Bank of America, knowingly structured bank deposits for co-defendant Steven Bennett in an attempt to avoid the bank’s transaction reporting requirements for cash deposits exceeding $10,000. Specifically, Bennett, or his associates, would provide the proceeds from their unlawful sales of controlled substance to the defendant who, in turn, would make cash deposits into bank accounts related to Bennett. The total amount of cash deposits structured by the defendant amounted to approximately $85,300.

Steven Bennett has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division, and  the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of James D. Robnett, Special Agent in Charge, New York Field Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Skretny.