Christopher Simmons, Financial Institution Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Illinois 2021

Christopher Simmons, Fraud & Identity Theft, Peoria IL, 2021

PEORIA, IL – Christopher Simmons, 40, of Chicago, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after a federal jury found him guilty of three counts of financial institution fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. The verdict came down on October 26, 2021, following a two-day trial in Peoria, Illinois, and sets the stage for a sentencing hearing scheduled for February 24, 2022.

The scheme unraveled when Simmons attempted to secure a $49,900 loan from Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) for a 2016 Audi. However, investigators quickly discovered Simmons didn’t own the vehicle and had lifted the car’s details directly from an online eBay listing. The real kicker? He wasn’t using his own identity to apply. Simmons allegedly used a stolen Social Security number, a fabricated address, and falsified earnings statements to trick CEFCU into approving the loan, as well as applications for additional credit.

CEFCU’s internal fraud detection flagged the suspicious activity, and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department was alerted. They were waiting when Simmons walked into a CEFCU branch to finalize the car loan. He was immediately arrested, ending a brazen attempt to profit from stolen identities and a fictitious purchase. The Secret Service then joined the investigation, leading to the federal charges.

Simmons wasn’t operating alone. An accomplice, Adreen Canterberry, previously pleaded guilty to financial institution fraud in connection with the scheme. Canterberry received a 15-month prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, and an order to pay $49,900 in restitution to CEFCU. This case highlights how fraudsters often work in concert, each playing a role in a larger criminal enterprise.

Currently, Simmons remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service awaiting his fate. The charges against him carry significant penalties: up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for each of the fraud counts. On top of that, the aggravated identity theft conviction carries a mandatory consecutive two-year prison term and an additional $250,000 fine. He also faces up to one year of supervised release for that charge.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Secret Service, with Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Darilynn Knauss and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer leading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder that identity theft and financial fraud are serious federal crimes with severe consequences, and that authorities are actively working to bring perpetrators to justice.

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