ID Thief Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Area Banks

PITTSBURGH, Pa.- A resident of Allegheny County pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of bank fraud and identity theft, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

Anthony Jose Marchionno, 29, of Pittsburgh, Pa., pleaded guilty on Wednesday to nine counts before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Marchionno used stolen identities of account holders at Citizens Bank, and other western Pennsylvania banks, to produce counterfeit checks or to make cash withdrawals at banks.

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for June 12, 2013. The law provides for a total sentence of 225 years in prison, a fine of $2,750,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Attorney Hickton commended Inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service along with agents from the United States Secret Service who, as part of the Western Pennsylvania Financial Crimes Task Force (WPFCTF), conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Anthony Jose Marchionno. The WPFCTF was established as a collaborative, multi-agency effort to effectively combat financial crimes, including identity fraud, in Western Pennsylvania. Partnering in this effort are the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Pennsylvania State Police.