Repeat Bank Fraudster Sentenced To 5+ Years In Prison For Theft Scheme

          A repeat offender who pledged to end his criminal ways in 2009, was sentenced July 2, 2018, to 65 months in prison for his return to bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. DERICO MONTEREY FULLER, 38, stole more than $287,000 from banks and businesses.  In 2009, FULLER was sentenced to 75 months in prison for a fraud totaling more than $564,000.  At the time of that sentencing FULLER pledged to turn his life around.  Instead, while on federal supervision, FULLER was arrested three times for driving under the influence and in 2016 returned to bank fraud.  In addition to the 65-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart imposed five years of supervised release to follow the prison term.     

           According to records filed in the case, FULLER pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in January 2018.  In the current scheme, FULLER and his coconspirators stole personally identifying information and created fake IDs in the victim names.  The also stole business checking account numbers.  Using the fake IDs and phony checks they would make bank deposits and withdraw cash before the financial institution discovered the fraud.  The conspirators also purchased cell phones and opened lines of credit in the stolen identities.            

           The case was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Friedman.