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Date: 09-11-2019
Case Style:
United States of America v. Angel L. Morales
Case Number: 1:18-cr-00104-JJM-PAS
Judge: John J. McConnell
Court: United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island (Providence County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: William J. Ferland and Zachary A. Cunha
Defendant's Attorney:
Call Kent Morlan at 888-354-4529 if you need a criminal defense fraud case lawyer in Providence, Rhode Island.
Description:
Providence, RI - Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to ID Theft, Bank Fraud
A Bronx, N.Y., man appeared in federal court in Providence today and admitted to his role in various stolen identity and bank fraud schemes and conspiracies that bilked banks, finance companies, car dealerships, and others in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and elsewhere out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Angel L. Morales, 52, is one of ten individuals charged in a series of indictments, informations, and criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Providence for their alleged participation in one or more conspiracies where individuals used stolen personal identifying information to open credit union accounts online and bank accounts in person at various bank branch offices, obtained auto loans using fraudulent documentation, and then quickly withdrew the funds prior to banks discovering the fraudulent activity.
Morales is among six individuals named in a 32-count superseding indictment returned on February 6, 2019. The indictment charges Morales with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and three counts of bank fraud. Appearing today before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Morales pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Morales admitted that as a participant in the conspiracy, he opened bank accounts at various bank branch offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts using stolen personal identifying information provided to him by other members of the conspiracy. Proceeds from fraudulently obtained car loans obtained by others with the use of fraudulent sales documents and vehicle titles were electronically deposited into accounts opened by Morales. Morales and others quickly withdrew the funds prior to banks discovering the schemes.
According to court documents, investigations led by the U.S. Secret Service with the assistance of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, East Providence, Warwick, and Pawtucket, R.I., Police Departments, Seekonk and Mansfield, Mass., Police Departments; and the Rhode Island State Police, have determined that the defendants, many known to one another, allegedly participated in various schemes to steal and use individuals’ personal identifying information to defraud banks, credit unions, finance companies, and retailers of hundreds of thousands of dollars in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Morales traveled to the Dominican Republic in September 2018, shortly after federal agents executed search warrants at the New Jersey apartment of one of his alleged co-conspirators. Morales returned to the United States on March 30, 2019, and was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic.
Charges:
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD in Violation of 18 USC 1344(2)
(23)
BANK FRAUD in Violation of 18 USC 1344(2) and 2
(24-29)
18:1349 - CONSPRIRACY TO COMMIT BANK FRAUD
(25s)
18:1344(2) and 2 - BANK FRAUD
(26s-27s)
AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT in Violation of 18 USC 1028A(a)(1) and (c)(4) and 2
(30)
18:1344(2) and 2 - BANK FRAUD
(31s)
18:1028A(a)(1) and (c)(4) and 2 - AGGRAVATED IDENTITY THEFT
(33s)
Outcome: 09/03/2019 Minute Entry for proceedings held before District Judge John J. McConnell, Jr.:Change of Plea Hearing as to Angel L. Morales held on 9/3/2019, Plea entered by Angel L. Morales (4) Guilty Count 25s,26s-27s,31s,33s. William Ferland & Zachary Cunha for Government. Thomas Briody for Defendant. Defendant present & sworn. Court verifies that the Defendant has reviewed the charges and plea agreement with his attorney. Court questions Defendant and reviews maximum penalties, sentencing guidelines, and constitutional rights. Defendant pleads guilty to Counts 25,26,27,31 & 33. Court accepts plea & adjudges defendant guilty. Sentencing Hearing is November 19, 2019 at 11:00 am. Defendant remanded. Court adjourned.(Court Reporter Karen Wischnossky in Courtroom 4 at 10:00 am.)(McGuire, Vickie) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
09/03/2019 NOTICE OF HEARING DEFENDANT REQUEST as to Angel L. Morales. Sentencing set for 11/19/2019 at 11:00 AM in Courtroom 1 before District Judge John J. McConnell, Jr.(McGuire, Vickie) (Entered: 09/03/2019)
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: