HARRISBURG – A two-year investigation has yielded a second superseding indictment against two York City men accused of a widespread ATM skimming operation that drained accounts across central Pennsylvania. Jeshua Paonessa-Velez, age 25, and Luis E. Arochom, age 39, are now facing federal charges of bank fraud and identity theft, adding to existing accusations dating back to 2015.
The scheme, according to federal prosecutors, involved installing “skimming” devices on ATMs at banks like Adams County National Bank and Jersey Shore State Bank. These devices captured the sensitive identification information of unsuspecting customers. That stolen data was then either loaded onto counterfeit cards for fraudulent purchases, or directly used to pilfer cash from victim’s accounts. The initial indictment in May 2015 also named Arturo Meireles-Candel, age 34, of York City, as a co-conspirator. Meireles-Candel later pleaded guilty in exchange for no new charges being filed.
The latest indictment expands the scope of the fraud, revealing that the pair allegedly targeted Member’s First Federal Credit Union in Hershey and Mechanicsburg, Santander Bank in Spring Grove and York, Centric Bank in Linglestown, Fulton Bank in Hershey, and Jonestown Bank and Trust in Lebanon. Investigators say they’ve uncovered additional instances of fraudulent activity beyond the original charges. Arochom was arrested on January 20, 2017, and ordered detained following an arraignment before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson. Paonessa-Velez’s arraignment is tentatively scheduled for January 31, 2017.
Federal authorities say the banks and retail establishments impacted by the scheme cooperated fully with the investigation. Adams County National Bank reportedly reimbursed all affected customers for their losses, a costly but necessary step to mitigate the damage caused by the alleged fraud. The investigation was a joint effort involving the U.S. Secret Service, the Southwestern Regional (York) Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, Derry Township Police Department, and Lower Paxton Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy is leading the prosecution. If convicted of bank fraud, both Paonessa-Velez and Arochom face a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release, and a hefty fine. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years in prison. However, prosecutors emphasized that sentencing will be determined by the judge based on a variety of factors outlined in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
It’s important to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania cautions that statutory maximum penalties are not indicative of the sentence a defendant may ultimately receive, as the judge will consider the specifics of the case and the defendant’s history.
Related Federal Cases
- OCC Officials Criticized for Ineffectual Bank Fraud Prevention, Was… · Pennsylvania
- No Defendant Name Found, Bank Fraud Scheme, USA, 2022 · Pennsylvania
- Donald Trump Found Liable for Financial Fraud, New York NY, 2024 · Pennsylvania
- Marc Henry Menard, Investment Fraud Scheme, New York, 2023 · Pennsylvania
- Bruce Choi, COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Los Angeles CA, 2023 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
Related Criminal Cases in US News
- Candies Goode-McCoy, COVID-19 Tax Credit Scheme, Nevada 2026
- Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero, Homicide, Reston VA, 2026
- Little Tiger, Wire Fraud, California 2023
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News