Related Federal Cases
Bank Employee, 6 Foreign Nationals Charged in $700,000 Bank Fraud Scheme
GREENBELT, Md. – A federal grand jury in Maryland has returned a superseding indictment charging six foreign nationals and a bank employee for a bank fraud scheme in which the defendants and their co-conspirators obtained or attempted to obtain more than $700,000.
The defendants, Diape Seck, age 27, of Rockville, Maryland; Nicolae Gindac, age 52, of Dania Beach, Florida; Mateus Vaduva a/k/a “Romi”, age 28; Marius Vaduva, age 26; Marian Unguru, age 36; Daniel Velcu, age 43; and Vali Unguru, age 18, all of Baltimore, Maryland are charged with a federal bank fraud and wire fraud conspiracy.
According to the superseding indictment and other court documents, from June 2018 to January 2021, conspirators fraudulently opened bank accounts at victim financial institutions. The conspirators stole checks from the incoming and outgoing mail of churches and other religious institutions, then deposited the stolen checks into the fraudulently opened bank accounts.
The conspirators then allegedly withdrew the funds and spent the fraudulently obtained proceeds. Specifically, the superseding indictment alleges that Diape Seck, an employee of one of the victim financial institutions, facilitated the opening of multiple bank accounts at that institution for the co-conspirators.
Mateus Vaduva, Marius Vaduva, Nicolae Gindac, Marian Unguru, Daniel Velcu, Vali Unguru and their co-conspirators allegedly used foreign identity documents, often but not universally Romanian, in both their true identities as well as suspected fictitious identities, to fraudulently open bank accounts at victim financial institutions.
According to court documents, an investigation by the victim bank where Diape Seck worked revealed that Seck allegedly violated numerous bank policies in opening approximately 412 checking accounts in a one-year period from approximately January 2, 2019 through January 3, 2020, relying predominantly on Romanian passports and driver’s license information.
Court documents also reveal that the conspirators allegedly made cash withdrawals from ATMs and purchases using debit cards associated with the bank accounts. The investigation was led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), with assistance from the Montgomery County Police Department, Cary, North Carolina, Police Department, and Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.
The superseding indictment was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Jonathan F. Lenzner and other law enforcement officials. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Joyce K. McDonald.
The defendants will make their initial appearances in court at a later date. If convicted, they could face up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud and wire fraud conspiracy allegations.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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