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Banker’s Nightmare: Synthetic Identity Thief Caught in the Act
A brazen scheme involving synthetic identity theft has finally been brought to justice, with the lead defendant pleading guilty to bank fraud in a Raleigh courtroom.
Michael Griffin, a Knightdale man, admitted to creating fictitious credit profiles and fraudulently altering client credit data through the use of fake police reports. The indictment alleges that Griffin and his co-conspirators, including family members, conspired to defraud several banks, including Synchrony Bank, Capital One, and Discover.
The scheme involved opening credit accounts in the name of fake identities, cashing out the accounts through prepaid card purchases, and then defaulting on the credit accounts. Griffin’s guilty plea comes after a lengthy period of litigation, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Following a lengthy period of litigation, and delays brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Griffin will finally face justice for his actions,’ said Acting United States Attorney G. Norman Acker, III. ‘We look forward to the sentencing phase of this case, and an opportunity to seek justice for the victims.’
Griffin’s sentencing is tentatively set for September 20, 2021, with the exact date and location to be determined. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Gilmore represents the United States in this case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-245-1D(2).
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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