Henry Joseph Williams, Bank Fraud, New York 2015

A brazen bank fraud scheme has landed a Rochester man behind bars. Henry Joseph Williams, 50, pleaded guilty to bank fraud in federal court, admitting to swindling nearly $8,100 from two area banks.

Between May 2015 and August 2015, Williams used his ATM cards to incur charges, then falsely claimed that his cards had been stolen, disputing the charges. At the time, Williams was on federal supervised release for a 2012 wire fraud conviction.

The United States Postal Service Inspection Service, led by Inspector-in-Charge Shelly Binkowski, and the United States Probation Department, under the direction of Anthony San Giacomo, investigated the case.

Williams’ actions were brazen, to say the least. He used his ATM cards to incur charges, then lied about the cards being stolen to avoid paying the debt. The scheme was uncovered, and now he faces the music.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for November 8, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci.

Williams’ lawyer was not available for comment, but sources close to the case say that the defendant is likely to face a significant sentence due to his history of white-collar crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of William J. Hochul Jr., is seeking justice for the victims of Williams’ scheme.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Field is handling the case, and has stated that Williams’ actions were a clear-cut case of bank fraud. The defendant’s guilty plea is a significant victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and a reminder that those who commit white-collar crimes will be held accountable.

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