Christopher Lindsey, Bank Fraud and Identity Theft, Minnesota 2002

Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Ring Busted in Twin Cities

A shocking case of bank fraud and identity theft has been uncovered in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Christopher Lindsey, a 33-year-old man from the area, has been charged with a 23-count indictment for his alleged role in a massive check fraud scheme and a fraudulent tax return scheme.

Lindsey is accused of coordinating an elaborate check fraud scheme from October 2002 until December 2013. During this time, he allegedly obtained legitimate bank account information from a variety of sources, including approximately 20,000 stolen checks that had already been negotiated as part of legitimate transactions.

Lindsey then used this information to create counterfeit checks, which he and his conspirators negotiated at various financial institutions and businesses throughout the Twin Cities area. The total intended and actual loss for the counterfeit check scheme was more than $1 million.

In addition to the check fraud scheme, Lindsey is also accused of executing a conspiracy to submit false claims to the IRS. He and his conspirators recruited individuals to file false and fraudulent tax returns with the IRS, and Lindsey created false and fraudulent Form W-2s for those individuals.

As a result of these actions, Lindsey and his conspirators caused the IRS to issue fraudulent income tax refunds. These refunds were then loaded onto debit cards issued to the conspirators, who provided the debit cards to Lindsey, who used them to make cash withdrawals. The conspiracy involved the submission of more than 40 fraudulent claims seeking refunds totaling more than $270,000.

Christopher Lindsey is charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud, 12 counts of Bank Fraud, three counts of Wire Fraud, four counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, and two counts of submitting False Claims for Refunds.

Eric Childs was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud. Nicole Shantelle Ashton, Monta Dormus Davis, Quentin Nathaniel Durr, Joanetta Joyce Robinson, and Tramaine Michael Smith each face one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.

United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger stated that the crimes charged in this case have a real impact on the community and economy. The case highlights the importance of strong law enforcement partnerships and the great work of the Minnesota Financial Crimes Task Force in bringing the defendants to justice.

Christopher Lindsey faces a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud, bank fraud and wire fraud, and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years on each count of aggravated identity theft.

He also faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and a potential maximum penalty of five years in prison for false claims for refunds. All sentences are ultimately determined by a federal district court judge.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/seven-individuals-charged-bank-fraud-and-identity-theft-ring