Husband and Wife Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bank Fraud

ROCHESTER, NY—United States Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael and Nicole Pecka, both 25, of Elmira, NY, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa for their role in a scheme to defraud the Bank of America and the New York State Unemployment Assistance Fund. Michael Pecka was sentenced to 37 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $359,000 in restitution to the New York State Unemployment Assistance Fund. His wife Nicole was sentenced to 12 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution to the New York State Unemployment Assistance Fund. Both were taken immediately into federal custody following sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring, who handled the case, stated that Mr. and Mrs. Pecka organized and participated in a scheme to defraud Bank of America by making unauthorized withdrawals from a New York State Unemployment Assistance Fund account. They used account number and routing code information from the Unemployment Assistance account to open and fund online accounts with E*Trade and other online banking companies. The couple received debit cards from these new accounts and then made cash withdrawals and other purchases to fund a lavish lifestyle. This included limo rides to New York City, hotels, theater tickets, and a trip to Italy. Michael Pecka also spent over $1,300 accessing various adult websites.

“With a high unemployment rate in the country and many Americans looking for a job, my office will vigorously prosecute any attempts to target funding set aside for those who have lost a job and need assistance as they search for new employment,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.

The plea is 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.