Bronx Man Gets 24 Months for Bank Fraud Heist

PROVIDENCE – In a brazen scheme to swindle banks out of nearly $143,000, a Bronx man has been sentenced to 24 months behind bars.

A 54-year-old Paul Keenan, of Bronx, NY, was handed down the sentence by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in February.

According to court documents, Keenan recruited and organized individuals, obtaining their photographs and personal identifying information (PII) to create fraudulent IDs. He then used this information to defraud banks in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and at least eight other states.

Keenan and his cohorts obtained the PII of at least 28 victim individuals, as well as information of at least 20 business entities, to create fake IDs and checks. They successfully defrauded 22 banks of approximately $93,200.

The scheme, which involved recruiting individuals to pose as bank accounts holders, was uncovered by Homeland Security Investigations and the East Providence Police Department, with the assistance of the Portsmouth Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Christine Lowell prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Sandra Hebert.

Keenan’s 24 months of incarceration will be followed by three years of supervised release, a stark reminder that bank fraud will not be tolerated in Rhode Island.

The case serves as a warning to would-be scammers: Rhode Island law enforcement is vigilant and will pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.