Atlanta Man Admits to Bank Fraud Scheme in WNY

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Ameer Clark, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, is facing up to 30 years in federal prison after admitting his role in a brazen bank fraud conspiracy that stretched across Western New York. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Clark’s guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo today, a small victory in a case that exposed a calculated scheme to drain funds from local businesses.

Between January and September 2022, Clark teamed up with co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones, Quentavious Price, and Montez White – and others – to execute a meticulously planned fraud. The crew flew in from Atlanta, targeting businesses in the Western District of New York, and systematically stole genuine checks. These weren’t smash-and-grab operations; this was a calculated effort to exploit the financial system.

The scheme involved creating fraudulent checks mirroring those stolen, then recruiting unsuspecting individuals to cash them. The conspirators didn’t just send these “mules” in looking like everyday citizens. They went the extra mile – or rather, the extra shopping trip – providing clothes to make them *appear* as construction workers or laborers, a pathetic attempt to blend in and avoid scrutiny. They then drove the mules to banks across the region, directing them to cash the counterfeit checks, offering a meager cut of the take for their participation.

The evidence presented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Sasha Mascarenhas paints a clear picture of the group’s movements. In January 2022, Price, Jones, and two others hit KeyBank branches in Elma and Tonawanda with fraudulent checks. March saw them targeting M&T Bank, Bank on Buffalo, and Evans Bank branches, expanding their reach to Clarence and Sanborn. The largest operation, in September 2022, involved Clark, Price, Jones, and White flying into Rochester and deploying six individuals across multiple banks – M&T, KeyBank, Northwest, Bank on Buffalo, and Evans – attempting to cash fraudulent checks tied to businesses in Rochester and Alden. The total loss is tallied at $64,979.67, a sum that represents more than just dollars and cents – it’s a direct hit to the local economy.

While Clark has now admitted his guilt, the investigation remains active. Lorenzo Jones and Quentavious Price have already been convicted for their roles. Charges are still pending against Montez White, suggesting the net is still tightening around this criminal enterprise. The investigation, a joint effort by Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police, underscores the ongoing fight against financial crimes that plague communities nationwide.

Clark’s sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2026, before Judge Vilardo. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. This case serves as a stark reminder that exploiting the financial system comes with severe consequences, and Grimy Times will continue to follow this case – and others like it – as they unfold.

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