Rochester Man Charged With Fraudulently Taking Over, Draining Retirement Account

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Isaiah Lopez, 29, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with financial institution fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a minimum penalty of two years in prison, a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendant fraudulently obtained control of the bank account belonging to a Rochester area victim that contained retirement funds. Lopez posed as the victim, prompting the bank to issue and send a replacement debit card and PIN number to a different address. The defendant then used the fraudulently-obtained card to withdraw approximately $188,000 from the victim’s account in late 2019 and early 2020.

Lopez made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was detained.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Joseph W. Cronin, Boston Division; the Irondequoit Police Department, acting under the direction of Chief Richard Tantalo, and New York State Police, acting under the direction of Major Eric Laughton.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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