TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County, New Jersey, man appeared in federal court today to face charges that he operated a $530,000 check-kiting scheme using stolen Social Security numbers, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.
Daniel White, 51, of Manalapan, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Arpert in Trenton federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From February 2015 to June 2016, White opened or directed others to open 413 accounts at TD Bank, using 133 different Social Security numbers, 84 of which belonged to other individuals. White then wrote or caused others to write 472 checks totaling more than $530,000 addressed to himself or the owners of the newly opened accounts, knowing that the accounts against which the checks were written did not contain sufficient funds. White and others deposited those checks into the newly opened accounts and withdrew money before the checks bounced.
The count of bank fraud with which White is charged carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The count of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum of two years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Mark McKevitt; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato; and the Manchester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Lisa D. Parker, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
The charges and allegations in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is innocent unless and until proven guilty.
--DOJ District of New Jersey