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Paonessa-Velez, Arochom Face Bank Fraud Charges
HARRISBURG – A superseding indictment has been filed against Jeshua Paonessa-Velez, 25, and Luis E. Arochom, 39, both of York City, Pennsylvania, for their alleged roles in a bank fraud scheme.
According to the indictment, Paonessa-Velez and Arochom worked together to devise a scheme to obtain money from several banks by placing skimming devices on their ATMs. The devices captured identification information of bank customers, which was then used to make purchases or withdraw cash directly from customer accounts.
The scheme allegedly targeted Adams County National Bank and Jersey Shore State Bank, as well as Member’s First Federal Credit Union in Hershey and Mechanicsburg, Santander Bank in Spring Grove and York, Centric Bank in Linglestown, Fulton Bank in Hershey, and Jonestown Bank and Trust in Lebanon.
Paonessa-Velez and Arochom were initially indicted in 2017 and faced 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. The new charges add additional instances of bank fraud and identity theft.
Arochom was arrested and arraigned on January 20, 2017, and was ordered detained. Paonessa-Velez’s arraignment is tentatively scheduled for January 31, 2017.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Southwestern Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, Derry Township Police Department, and Lower Paxton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy is prosecuting the case.
The maximum penalty for bank fraud is 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release, and a fine. The penalty for aggravated identity theft is 2 years in prison consecutive to any sentence imposed for the underlying bank fraud offense.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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