Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

          CONCORD - Chinedu Ihejiere, 42, of Brockton, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, Ihejiere and others conspired to use other persons’ identities to open bank accounts.  Once the accounts were opened, Ihejiere deposited fraudulent checks into those accounts.  After the money was credited to the accounts but before the banks learned that the check was false, Ihejiere or his co-conspirators withdrew the money from the bank accounts.

          Between June 1, 2016, and August 4, 2017, Ihejiere or his co-conspirators used other people’s identities to open at least ten bank accounts in Nashua, New Hampshire, Boston, Massachusetts, Wilmington, Massachusetts, and Norcross, Georgia.  Ihejiere deposited over $119,000 drawn from fraudulent checks into at least three of those accounts and he or his co-conspirators withdrew over $69,000 from those accounts.  In October 2017, in response to a report of possible fraud, law enforcement arrested Ihejiere at a bank in Brockton, while he was depositing a money order.

          In total, Ihejiere and his associates obtained over $68,000 through the scheme.

          Ihejiere is scheduled to be sentenced on September 13, 2019.

          “Financial crimes can have serious impacts on their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Fraudulent check schemes undermine our banking system and drive up costs for everyone. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit fraud in the Granite State.”

          “Mr. Ihejiere is finally accepting responsibility for using other people’s identities to open bank accounts and commit fraud. His willingness to participate in this conspiracy shows a callous disregard for the law,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those who attempt to fraudulently utilize the banking system for their own personal gain.”

          “Financial crimes that use unsuspecting individual’s identities to commit bank fraud cause substantial losses,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division.  “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to conduct investigations, alongside our law enforcement partners, that seek prosecution of those who compromise the personal information of our customers and the integrity the U.S. Mail.” 

          This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter.