SEATTLE, WA – Derico Monterey Fuller, 38, is headed back to federal prison after a brazen return to bank fraud, despite assurances made a decade ago that he’d gone straight. Fuller was sentenced July 2, 2018, to 65 months behind bars for stealing over $287,000 from banks and businesses across the region. This isn’t Fuller’s first rodeo; in 2009, he received a 75-month sentence for a similar fraud totaling more than $564,000.
At the time of his initial sentencing, Fuller publicly pledged to turn his life around. A promise quickly broken. While still under federal supervision, Fuller was arrested three times for driving under the influence. Then, in 2016, he dove headfirst back into the world of bank fraud, proving that some cons simply can’t help themselves. U.S. District Judge James L. Robart didn’t mince words, adding five years of supervised release to Fuller’s prison term.
Court records detail a sophisticated scheme where Fuller and his accomplices harvested personally identifying information. They crafted fake IDs using stolen data and pilfered business checking account numbers. The crew then deposited fraudulent checks and siphoned off cash before the banks could catch on. The operation wasn’t limited to bank accounts; the conspirators also used stolen identities to purchase cell phones and open fraudulent lines of credit, maximizing their ill-gotten gains.
The investigation, a joint effort between the King County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service, peeled back the layers of the scheme. Agents traced the fraudulent activity, connecting it back to Fuller and his network. The Secret Service, typically known for protecting dignitaries, is increasingly involved in complex financial crimes like this, highlighting the link between physical security and economic stability.
Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Friedman successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and lengthy sentence. The prosecution highlighted Fuller’s history of deception and the calculated nature of the fraud. The 65-month sentence sends a clear message: repeat offenders will face serious consequences for preying on financial institutions and innocent victims.
Fuller pleaded guilty to both bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in January 2018. While the sentence offers some measure of justice, it remains to be seen whether Fuller will finally honor a promise to change his ways, or if this is simply another temporary pause in a life dedicated to fraud. The Department of Justice, Western District of Washington, handled the case.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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