Danielle Bartley, Bank Fraud, District of Columbia 2021

WASHINGTON – A Silver Spring, Maryland woman has confessed to her role in a brazen bank fraud scheme that saw conspirators attempt to drain over a quarter of a million dollars from Capital One accounts. Danielle Bartley, 26, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, admitting to a plot that compromised the information of at least nine account holders.

According to court documents, between June and August of 2017, Bartley, then a branch associate in Washington, D.C., worked with co-conspirator Krishna Jannor-John Marsh to pose as legitimate account holders. They attempted to fraudulently withdraw or transfer at least $253,000. The scheme involved using personal identifiers purchased by Marsh on the dark web. While many attempts were thwarted – including one flagged by an observant bank teller – the group successfully executed a $50,000 wire transfer.

This isn’t a new case. Marsh, 25, of New York, N.Y., was sentenced to 46 months in prison back in September 2018, and ordered to pay $338,100 in restitution, with a $50,000 forfeiture money judgment levied against him. Bartley, however, skipped town. She fled to Jamaica, delaying justice for years before being extradited back to the United States earlier this year to finally face the music.

The guilty plea comes with a potential sentence of up to 20 years behind bars and significant financial penalties. However, under federal sentencing guidelines, Bartley is likely looking at a prison term of 27 to 33 months, alongside a fine of up to $100,000. The plea agreement also requires her to pay $50,000 in restitution to Capital One and forfeit the $3,750 she personally profited from the operation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, alongside U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler, and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel A. Adame, lauded the investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arvind Lal and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Joshua Fein and Kristy Penny.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2022, before The Honorable Thomas F. Hogan. While Marsh is already serving his time, Bartley’s delayed accountability highlights the challenges of pursuing justice across international borders and the persistence of federal investigators in cracking down on financial crimes. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by identity theft and the dark web's role in facilitating illicit activity.

Source: https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2021/10/former-bank-employee-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-commit-bank-fraud