Jean Andre Bontiffe, Bank Fraud, Massachusetts 2023
BOSTON — Jean Andre Bontiffe, a 41-year-old man from New York, pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud, one count of forgery or false use of a Passport, and one count of aggravated identity theft in federal court in Boston.
Bontiffe was previously charged by criminal complaint in October 2023 and will be sentenced on May 6, 2025.
On Aug. 9, 2022, Bontiffe was arrested in New York for attempting to pass through TSA screening at LaGuardia Airport using a counterfeit California driver’s license in the same name as one of the Massachusetts victims.
A subsequent investigation revealed that, between July 20 and July 22, 2022, Bontiffe traveled to Massachusetts from New York and made nine attempts to withdraw money from bank accounts that belonged to three victims from Massachusetts – stealing a total of $13,800.
On July 20, 2022, Bontiffe entered a TD Bank branch in North Andover, Mass. and presented a United States passport and a Discover credit card, both in the name of a Massachusetts resident who had an account at the bank, as proof of identity and attempted to withdraw $4,500 from that account.
Due to unmatched signatures, the bank denied the transaction and confiscated the passport and credit card prior to Bontiffe fleeing the scene.
The charge of making or using a forged passport provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →