A brazen bank fraud and identity theft scheme that targeted financial institutions in Western New York has landed a Georgia man behind bars. Quentavious Price, 38, of Hampton, GA, was sentenced to 36 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo for his role in the conspiracy.
Between January and September 2022, Price, along with co-conspirators Lorenzo Jones, Ameer Clark, and Montez White, and others, conspired to defraud financial institutions. Members of the conspiracy would travel from Atlanta, Georgia, to the Western District of New York, and steal genuine checks from businesses. Using those checks, they would create fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of the businesses.
Members of the conspiracy then recruited individuals to cash the fraudulent checks, buy clothes for the individuals to make them appear to be construction workers or laborers, and then drive them to area financial institutions and direct them to cash the fraudulent checks. If the checks were successfully cashed, the individuals received a small payment.
According to the investigation, Price and his co-conspirators carried out multiple trips to Western New York, targeting financial institutions in Buffalo, Rochester, and surrounding areas. In January 2022, Price and others flew from Atlanta to Buffalo and drove an individual to various KeyBank branches to cash or attempt to cash fraudulent checks drawn on the KeyBank accounts of a business based in Elma, NY, and a second business based in Tonawanda, NY.
In March 2022, Price and two others came to Buffalo from Atlanta and drove three individuals to M&T Bank branches, Bank on Buffalo branches, and Evans Bank branches to cash, or attempt to cash, fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of businesses based in Tonawanda, Clarence, NY, and Sanborn, NY.
In September 2022, Price, Jones, Clark, and White flew from Atlanta to Rochester, NY, and drove six individuals to M&T Bank branches, KeyBank branches, Northwest Bank branches, Bank on Buffalo branches, and Evans Bank branches, to cash or attempt to cash, fraudulent checks drawn on the bank accounts of two businesses based in Rochester, and one based in Alden, NY.
Price also used the identity of the owner of one of the victim businesses during a felony violation. The total loss amount, including actual loss and intended loss, was $64,979.67.
Lorenzo Jones, Ameer Clark, and Montez White were previously convicted and sentenced. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie P. Feroleto.
The brazen scheme highlights the need for vigilance by financial institutions and individuals to prevent such frauds. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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