Michael Keefe White, Bank Fraud, Missouri 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A California man has been convicted of orchestrating a nearly $460,000 bank fraud scheme that involved stolen checks and false identities, according to federal prosecutors.

In a guilty plea entered in federal court, Michael Keefe White, 61, of Winnetka, Calif., admitted to using stolen checks and counterfeit identification to open bank accounts in Missouri and other states. White then deposited the stolen checks and counterfeit checks into the accounts, withdrew or wire transferred the money, and used numerous counterfeit driver’s licenses to open bank accounts.

The specific bank fraud to which White pleaded guilty involved an account at a Parkville, Mo., bank in which White deposited a $48,700 counterfeit check. Under the terms of the plea agreement, White must forfeit to the government $248,155, which represents the actual loss attributable to the fraud scheme.

White faces a sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison without parole for bank fraud and money laundering, plus a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Treasury – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspector Service.

White’s guilty plea is a significant blow to his attempts to further his financial gain through deceitful means. The guilty plea highlights the importance of vigilance in protecting against financial crimes and the consequences that come with them.

The sentencing hearing for White will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

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