PROVIDENCE, RI – In a stunning blow to organized crime, four Florida residents have been convicted in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, for their individual roles in a wide-ranging conspiracy to use stolen personal identifying information (PII) of unsuspecting individuals to fraudulently obtain more than $4.8 million by defrauding banks and fraudulently obtaining benefits and payments from federal and state agencies in multiple jurisdictions.
The four men – James Legerme, 33, of Sunrise, FL, Allen Bien-Aime, 33, of Lehigh Acres, FL, Junior Mertile, 35, of Miramar, FL, and Tony Mertile, 33, of Miramar, FL – pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to plea agreements filed with the court, the defendants have each agreed to forfeit $1,214,294.75 in funds that constitute proceeds of the conspiracy.
The scheme, which was uncovered by a joint investigation between the United States Attorney’s Office, Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rhode Island State Police, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, among others, involved the submission of fraudulent applications to multiple state unemployment agencies, including the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, for pandemic-related benefits made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The defendants also used stolen PII to obtain debit and credit cards, and to open bank accounts that were used to receive, deposit, and transfer fraudulently obtained government benefits and payments. In addition, they submitted fraudulent applications in the names of other persons to federal and state agencies to obtain tax refunds, stimulus payments, and disaster relief funds.
The case is being prosecuted in U.S. District Court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Stacey A. Erickson and Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General John M. Moreira, chief of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Public Integrity Unit. United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced the convictions, praising the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Junior Mertile and Tony Mertile are scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2024, while James Legerme and Allen Bien-Aime are scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2024. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was a testament to the dedication and expertise of law enforcement agencies in uncovering and disrupting sophisticated schemes that target vulnerable individuals and institutions. The convictions serve as a warning to those who would engage in similar activities, and a testament to the power of collaborative law enforcement efforts in bringing perpetrators to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Mass. Pain Doc Pleads Guilty to $27M Fraud Scheme · Massachusetts
- Phan and Tran Sentenced in $330,000 Cell Phone Fraud Scheme · New Hampshire
- Rhode Island Contractor Sentenced for Bankruptcy Fraud Scheme · Rhode Island
- Florida Man Accused of ATM Skimming Spree · Massachusetts
- Miami Man Held in $1M ATM ‘Cashout Scheme’ · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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