A Providence man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a bank fraud scheme that obtained the bank routing and account information of unsuspecting individuals and later used that information to create and deposit counterfeit checks.
Julio Ariza, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith on June 8, 2023, to 24 months on incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. Ariza was ordered to pay restitution to banks totaling $22,976.21, which reflected the actual loss to banks due to his criminal conduct.
According to information presented to the court, Ariza recruited individuals to allow counterfeit checks to be deposited into their accounts; deposited counterfeit checks into those accounts; and aided and abetted in the withdrawal of funds from those accounts.
Ariza pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, admitting that from approximately October 28, 2020, to November 4, 2020, he arranged for, and coordinated the deposit of, at least seven counterfeit checks, with the intent to defraud banks out of $102,694.38.
A co-defendant in this matter, Nestor Concepcion, 27, of Johnston, similarly charged, pleaded guilty on January 21, 2022, and was sentenced on April 25, 2022, to sixteen months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. Concepcion admitted to the court that the intended loss to banks due to his criminal conduct totaled $71,717.77.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin. The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Ariza’s sentence brings an end to a scheme that targeted unsuspecting individuals and put millions of dollars at risk. His crimes will have a lasting impact on his victims, and his sentence serves as a reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable.
Defendant: Julio Ariza
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud
City and State: Providence, Rhode Island
Date: June 8, 2023 (sentencing)
Sentence: 24 months on incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution to banks totaling $22,976.21
Dollar Amounts: $102,694.38 (intended loss to banks), $22,976.21 (restitution to banks)
Related Federal Cases
- Carlos Iglesias, Bank Fraud, Rhode Island 2024 · New Hampshire
- Sarah Gaulin, Bank Fraud, Rhode Island 2023 · Washington
- Terrance Richardson, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Rhode Island 2020 · Rhode Island
- George L. Wilson, Passport Fraud, Rhode Island 2024 · Connecticut
- Daniel E. Saad, Arson and Wire Fraud, Rhode Island 2014 · New Hampshire
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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