Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Bank Fraud, Identity Theft

Memphis, TN – A woman with multiple felony convictions has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today.

According to facts presented in court, from December 2014 to March 2015, Patricia Ann Johnson, 38, targeted and obtained the bank account numbers and other identifying personal information of individuals who had the same name as her. She impersonated these individuals to make cash withdrawals from their accounts at area banks, which included First Citizens, Regions, SunTrust, and First Tennessee. The victims were from Tennessee and other states.

One of the fraudulent bank transactions occurred on December 3, 2014 at First Citizens Bank on Highway 70. The defendant impersonated another Patricia Johnson and obtained $9,000 from the victim’s account.

Another fraudulent transaction occurred on March 7, 2015 at First Tennessee Bank on Kirby Parkway. Once again, the defendant impersonated another Patricia Johnson and obtained $4,000 from the victim’s account.

On March 19, 2015, the defendant was arrested while attempting to make a fraudulent transaction at SunTrust Bank on Poplar. In total, the defendant obtained more than $20,000 during her scheme.

Johnson has an extensive criminal record, which includes 24 felony convictions.

Johnson was charged with bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and violating the supervised release of her last federal conviction for identity theft. She was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Monday, September 28th by Judge Jon Phipps McCalla.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted the case.