MAVANI COLEMAN, Bank Fraud, Connecticut 2023

MAVANI COLEMAN, a 44-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, has pleaded guilty to bank fraud in a Connecticut federal court. According to court documents and statements made in court, Colemen played a key role in a scheme that stole over $479,000 from a retired woman's bank account.

The scheme, which began in 2018, involved Gregory Ivy, a man from New Haven, who stole checks from the victim's checkbook while doing odd jobs for her. Ivy then wrote checks payable to himself, forged the victim's signature, and deposited the checks into his personal credit union account.

Coleman, who worked with others to cash or deposit the stolen checks, would kick back to Ivy amounts typically ranging from $500 to $800. At times, Ivy did not receive his agreed-upon share of the proceeds. Coleman also used the victim's bank account routing number and account number to arrange electronic funds transfers (EFTs) from the victim's account to make payments for himself, his business, his family members, and other friends and acquaintances.

Coleman worked with other individuals, including Lamont Bethea, to cash or deposit stolen checks on which Ivy had forged the victim's signature. Bethea also used the victim's bank account routing and account number to arrange EFTs from the victim's account to make payments for himself and others. Bethea also provided the routing and bank account numbers to other individuals so they could arrange similar EFTs for themselves and others from the victim's account.

Coleman, Ivy, Bethea, and other participants attempted to obtain a total of $624,818.28 from the victim's bank account. Because the victim's bank account became overdrawn, some attempted check deposits or EFTs were reversed, resulting in a loss to the victim of $479,569.08. Coleman personally stole $33,869 from the victim during his involvement in the scheme, and family members and associates of Coleman were responsible for the theft of $248,423.09 from the account.

Coleman was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on April 6, 2023. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. He is currently released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. Ivy and Bethea previously pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

The investigation into the scheme is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of Bank of America. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon.

MAVANI COLEMAN is a 44-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York.

The defendant's exact criminal charges are one count of bank fraud.

The crime occurred in 2018.

The defendant is currently released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing.

The defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

The total amount attempted to be stolen from the victim's bank account is $624,818.28.

The actual loss to the victim is $479,569.08.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/new-york-man-admits-role-theft-retired-womans-bank-account