PROVIDENCE, RI – A former Citizens Bank employee confessed in federal court Thursday to participating in a brazen bank fraud conspiracy that netted approximately $330,000 in counterfeit funds. Savonnah Briggs, 28, of Providence, admitted to pilfering sensitive banking information – including data from individuals, businesses, and even a law firm – and handing it over to a co-conspirator who weaponized it for illicit gain.
According to court documents, Briggs, while employed at the bank, routinely accessed confidential customer information and check images. She then allegedly sent screenshots of this data to Richard Kobi, 27, also of Providence. Kobi, already sentenced for his role in the scheme, used the stolen data to manufacture fraudulent personal and business checks. These checks weren’t just cashed by Kobi himself; he actively recruited others via Facebook, paying them to deposit the counterfeit checks into accounts they controlled.
The scheme was swift and calculated. Once the fraudulent checks cleared, Kobi and his network immediately began making rapid withdrawals of cash from ATMs and bank tellers, attempting to siphon off the ill-gotten gains before the fraud could be detected. The operation, while initially successful, ultimately unraveled, leading to both Briggs and Kobi facing federal charges. Kobi pleaded guilty last April to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, ten counts of bank fraud, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He received a three-year federal prison sentence in December 2022.
Briggs’s guilty plea on Thursday centers around a single charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. She now awaits sentencing on April 25, 2023. The final determination of her punishment will rest with a federal district judge, who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors. While a sentencing range has not been publicly disclosed, a significant term of imprisonment is likely given the scale of the fraud and the breach of trust inherent in Briggs’s actions as a bank employee.
The investigation, a collaborative effort, involved the U.S. Postal Inspection Service taking the lead, with crucial assistance from the FBI, United States Secret Service, ATF, Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, and Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin is prosecuting the case, ensuring that those who exploit the financial system for personal gain are held accountable.
This case underscores the growing threat of internal fraud and the vulnerability of financial institutions to individuals willing to abuse their positions of trust. The $330,000 in fraudulent checks represents a significant loss, not just to the banks involved, but also to the individuals and businesses whose information was compromised. Federal authorities are continuing to investigate potential links to other fraudulent activities and warn citizens to remain vigilant against identity theft and financial scams.
Related Federal Cases
- Savonnah Briggs, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Rhode Island 2023 · New York
- Richard Koboi, Bank Fraud, Providence RI, 2022 · Michigan
- Maximillian Mwah, Bank Fraud, Providence RI, 2023 · Delaware
- Isha-Lee Savage, Bank Fraud, Providence RI, 2023 · Delaware
- Maximilian Mwah, Check Fraud, Providence RI, 2022 · New York
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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