Home Buffalo Press Releases 2010 Elmira Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud
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Elmira Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s Office April 12, 2010
  • Western District of New York (716) 843-5700

ROCHESTER, NY—United States Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that MICHAEL J. PECKA, 25, of Elmira, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to a felony indictment charging him with bank fraud. Bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who handled the case, stated that the defendant organized and participated in a scheme to defraud Bank of America, by making unauthorized withdrawals from a New York State Unemployment Assistance Fund account. The defendant would use account number and routing code information from this account to open and fund online trading accounts with E*Trade and other companies. He would receive a debit card for each account, and then withdraw all the money. The defendant obtained approximately $350,000 in this manner, which he used to fund limousine rides to New York City, personal purchases, and a trip to Italy.

U.S. Attorney Hochul stated “It’s a shame when someone tries to rip off a program designed to help those who have lost their jobs. This case send a clear message that we will not tolerate it.”

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James H. Robertson, and Special Agents of the United States Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Marjorie Franzman.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2010, in Rochester, NY, in front of U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa.

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