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California Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud
FRESNO, Calif. – In a shocking turn of events, Edgar Alexander Gomez, 41, of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents, between July and September 2012, Gomez and his accomplice, Jennifer Grace Barthel, stole identity documents from the U.S. mail, including driver’s licenses, social security cards, and credit and debit cards.
On several occasions, Gomez and Barthel attempted to open bank accounts at federally insured financial institutions using the identities of people whose mail they had stolen. In connection with one of their attempts to fraudulently open bank accounts, Gomez and Barthel attempted to negotiate a check after forging the payee’s signature.
The case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which has been working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners to arrest and prosecute those responsible for complex identity fraud schemes.
Gomez and Barthel are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on September 26, 2016. They face a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Gomez also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.
The case highlights the growing threat of identity theft and bank fraud in California. As law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on these crimes, it is essential that individuals take steps to protect their personal information and monitor their financial accounts for suspicious activity.
In related news, co-defendant Augustine Castro Salazar, 47, also of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty on November 16, 2015, to theft of U.S. mail. Salazar remains in custody awaiting sentencing.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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