A Massachusetts man was indicted in connection with a large-scale scheme to steal several million dollars from various bank accounts. Charles Washington was indicted on one count of bank fraud and four counts of bank fraud conspiracy.
If convicted, Washington could serve a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, serve an additional five years on supervised probation upon being released from prison and pay a fine of up to $1 million dollars.
More information about this case may be found here.
Fourth Chicago woman pleads guilty to credit card fraud
An investigation of a credit card scheme results in a guilty plea of a Chicago woman. Crystal Merritt, pled guilty to possession of 15 or more counterfeit access devices.
Merritt is scheduled to be sentenced in October. For her crime, she could be sentenced to serve up to 10 years in prison and pay a fine of $250,000.
More information about this case may be found here.
Third Circuit Affirms United States’ Forfeiture and Ownership of Double Eagle Coins
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, issued a ruling concluding that the United States had a right to keep ten 1933 $20 gold coins that have been the subject of years of litigation. The coins, known as Double Eagles, are twenty dollar gold pieces that were manufactured by the United States Mint in 1933.
The United States Secret Service has investigated this matter since 1944 when the government first became aware of a Double Eagle being put up for public auction.
More information on this case may be found here.
Clovis Man Sentenced For Counterfeiting U.S. Currency
A California man was sentenced to more than two and a half years in prison for counterfeiting U.S. currency and possessing unauthorized access devices used to commit identity theft.
Larry Landseadal possessed the personal information of approximately 260 individuals, and used the information to open credit card accounts. Landseadal also unlawfully produced and possessed counterfeit U.S. currency in denominations up to $100.
More information on this case may be found here.
Three Cuban Nationals Pled Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft
An investigation results in guilty pleas from three Cuban nationals for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Juliet Estrada Perez, Luis Rivera Garcia, and Jesus Enrique Gonzales Torres pled guilty to conspiring among themselves and with others to possessing fifteen or more unauthorized and counterfeit access devices, as well as producing, possessing, and trafficking device-making equipment.
More information on this case may be found here.
About the United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service was originally founded in 1865 for the purpose of suppressing the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Now an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service is widely known for its protective mission in safeguarding the nation’s highest elected officials, visiting foreign heads of state and events of national significance. Today, the Secret Service maintains a unique dual mission of protection and investigations, as one of the premier law enforcement organizations charged with investigating cyber and financial crimes.