A Granite City man has admitted to a brazen bank fraud scheme that cost Commerce Bank over $157,000.
Clarence Wigfall Jr., 32, pleaded guilty to a bank fraud charge in front of U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Tuesday.
According to investigators, Wigfall defrauded the bank by depositing hundreds of worthless checks into dozens of people’s accounts. He obtained the debit cards and account information of Commerce Bank account holders through public Facebook posts and elsewhere, promising them cash in exchange.
Wigfall and his associates then withdrew money from the compromised accounts before the bank realized that the checks had been written on frozen accounts, blocked accounts, closed accounts, fake accounts, and accounts with insufficient funds. Some of the checks also had forged signatures.
Wigfall regularly used a piece of paper to shield himself from the ATM cameras as he carried out the scheme.
At least ten of the checking account holders did not authorize Wigfall to use their information in his scheme.
Wigfall deposited hundreds of worthless checks into at least 55 separate accounts, defrauding the bank out of at least $157,256.92.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Wigfall is scheduled to be sentenced on November 8. The bank fraud charge carries a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Keefe White, Bank Fraud, MO 2024 · Kansas
- Sean LaDue, Armed Bank Robbery Attempt, Missouri 2016 · Kansas
- Donald Hicklin, Bank Fraud and Identity Theft Conspiracy, VA 2023 · North Carolina
- Albert Davis, Wire Fraud, Kansas City, MO, 2023 · Texas
- Russell Hopkins, Securities Fraud Conspiracy, Kansas City MO, 2023 · Kansas
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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