Description: Providence, Rhode Island criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud financial institutions in several states.

Rolando E. Estrella, 35, of Dracut, MA., the former owner of a used car dealership in Lawrence, MA, previously admitted to a federal judge in Providence that he recruited, employed, and directed others to file fraudulent used car loan applications using stolen personal identifying information and fraudulent documents, including falsified car. Once the loans were issued by financial institutions, the proceeds were deposited into bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy and the proceeds were then quickly withdrawn in cash.

According to information presented to the court, Estrella and his co-defendants intended to defraud financial institutions of more than $2.8 million.

Estrella pleaded guilty on October 1, 2022, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, seven counts of bank fraud, and one count of fraudulent use of a Social Security number. He was sentenced today in sixty months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Estrella was ordered to pay restitution to financial institutions totaling more than $2.8 million.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

The investigation into this fraud ring which operated throughout the northeast was conducted by the Social Security Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service.

CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD all in Violation of 18 USC 1349
(1)
18:1349 - CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD
(1s)
BANK FRAUD in Violation of 18 USC 1344(2) and 2
(2-8)
18:1344(2) and 2 - BANK FRAUD
(2s-8s)
AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT in Violation of 18 USC 1028A(a)(1) and (c)(4) and 2
(9)
18:1028A(a)(1) and (c)(4) and 2 - AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT
(9s)
FRAUDULENT USE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER in Violation of 42 USC 408(a)(7)(B) and 18 USC 2
(10)
42:408(a)(7)(B) and 18:2 - FRAUDULENT USE OF A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
(10s)

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to five years in prison.

10/08/2023 291 SENTENCING MEMORANDUM by Rolando E. Estrella (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Attachment 1 - Certificates, # 2 Exhibit Attachment 2 - Business Renovations, # 3 Exhibit Attachment 3 - Mobile App Overview, # 4 Exhibit Attachment 4 - Patent Docs, # 5 Exhibit Attachment 5 - Christian Album, # 6 Exhibit Attachment 6 - Statements of Support, # 7 Exhibit Attachment 7 - Defendant's Letter, # 8 Exhibit Attachment 8 - Photos)(Calcagni, John) (Entered: 10/08/2023)

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: