SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Steven Daniel Miller, 48, of Fairfield, California, is facing serious time after admitting to a brazen scheme to defraud a bank out of $75,754 and steal someone’s identity. Miller pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
The con unfolded in October 2018. Miller didn’t bother with honesty when applying for credit at a bank. He brazenly used another person’s Social Security number, a federal crime in itself, to secure a loan. The target? A shiny, powerful 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat at a Yuba City car dealership. The bank, operating on false pretenses, approved the loan and wired the $75,754 directly to the dealership.
Miller didn’t waste any time. He drove off the lot in the stolen Hellcat, thinking he’d gotten away with it. He hadn’t. Law enforcement quickly caught up, seizing the vehicle. The investigation, led by the U.S. Secret Service, exposed the full scope of Miller’s fraud. The CHP, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, Rocklin Police Department, Gilroy Police Department, and Fairfield Police Department all contributed to the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is building the case against Miller, and the numbers aren’t looking good for the defendant. He’s scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on August 8, 2024, for sentencing. The bank fraud charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in federal prison and a hefty $1 million fine.
But that’s not all. The aggravated identity theft charge comes with a mandatory two-year prison sentence, and that sentence must be served consecutively – meaning on top of – any time Miller receives for the bank fraud. While the judge has discretion within federal sentencing guidelines and statutory factors, it’s clear Miller is headed for a lengthy stay behind bars.
This case serves as a stark reminder that identity theft and financial fraud aren’t victimless crimes. They carry significant penalties and are aggressively pursued by federal investigators. Miller’s attempt to live the high life in a stolen Hellcat has backfired spectacularly, leaving him facing a potential three-decade prison term. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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