MAVANI COLEMAN, Bank Fraud, Connecticut 2024

BROOKLYN, NY MAN GETS 3 MONTHS PRISON FOR ROLE IN THEFT FROM RETIREE’S BANK ACCOUNT

A 44-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, has been sentenced to three months in prison for his role in the theft of funds from a retiree’s bank account in Connecticut.

MAVANI COLEMAN, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to three months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in the theft of funds from the victim’s bank account.

According to court documents and statements made in court, COLEMAN was involved in a scheme to steal funds from the victim’s bank account, working with Gregory Ivy, a man from New Haven, who began stealing checks from the victim’s checkbook in 2018.

Ivy would then write checks payable to himself, forge the victim’s signature on the checks, and deposit them into his personal credit union account. COLEMAN would then fill in the name of the payee and the amount to be paid on the stolen checks, and arrange for them to be deposited into other persons’ bank accounts.

The scheme, which involved COLEMAN, Ivy, and others, attempted to obtain a total of $624,818.28 from the victim’s bank account. However, due to the victim’s bank account becoming overdrawn, some attempted check deposits or electronic funds transfers 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 was ordered to pay restitution of $248,423.09, which includes money stolen from the account by COLEMAN and other individuals working with him.

COLEMAN was arrested on April 6, 2023, and pleaded guilty to bank fraud on February 14, 2024. He is required to report to prison on October 16, 2024, and is currently released on a $50,000 bond.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Sheldon.

The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers, and can be reached at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Related Federal Cases